Liberals compromise on national begging ban investigation amid Tidö Agreement tensions in Sweden

The ban on begging remains one of the most contentious points in the Tidö Agreement for the Liberal Party. This issue has been discussed at several party conferences, consistently ending in rejection on the grounds that it should be addressed at the EU level. When the Tidö Agreement was unveiled, several members of parliament declared they would not support a national ban on begging.

The unified resistance from the Liberals led to a compromise, where an investigation into a possible ban will take place, with the investigator tasked to present a legislative proposal regardless of their stance on the issue. However, the agreement does not mandate the government to present a proposal by 2026. This compromise appears to temporarily defuse a divisive issue among the parties involved.

A national begging ban was a key demand from SD leader Jimmie Åkesson ahead of government negotiations. It would be reasonable for SD’s leadership to deliver on this promise during their term. However, the significance of this issue has diminished compared to mid-2010s, when it was a prominent topic with a majority of voters favoring a ban, serving as a symbol for changes in migration and justice policies.

Since 2020, begging has decreased, partly due to the pandemic, which made it harder for individuals to come to Sweden for this purpose. Other contributing factors include the growing decline in the use of cash, local begging bans in fifteen municipalities, and the public’s diminishing response to begging. Despite its decreased emphasis, the issue has regained prominence due to internal divisions within the Tidö parties. If the government and SD propose a ban during this term, it could complicate matters for the opposition Social Democrats. However, the pressure on the Liberals raises doubts about their ability to withstand being overridden once again.