Government withdraws controversial plan to lower age of criminal responsibility

The Swedish government has withdrawn its proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13, after last-minute negotiations between the Moderates and Social Democrats collapsed, SVT reports.

Talks between the two parties had advanced on Wednesday over a new parliamentary “quittning” (pairing) system, which would have allowed each side to excuse up to ten members from votes. This system was intended to secure passage of the controversial legislation.

According to SVT, the negotiations failed when the Social Democrats insisted that the pairing system could not be used for Monday’s vote on the proposal. The Moderates, led by group leader Mattias Karlsson, had sought to use the system to offset Liberal Party opposition to the plan.

Social Democrats’ group leader Lena Hallengren stated that the Moderates prioritised securing a majority for the age-lowering proposal over establishing a functional pairing system. Both sides now indicate that a new system may not be in place until well into the next electoral term.