The Swedish government has unveiled a sweeping proposal to amend the nation's constitution. The plan would allow the state to strip citizenship from dual nationals who lead criminal gangs. It would also criminalize participation in criminal organizations. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer announced the measures at a press conference in Stockholm.
Minister Strömmer stated the proposals target threats to national security. He specifically named violent extremism and organized crime. The measures require changes to two fundamental laws. These are the Instrument of Government and the Freedom of the Press Act.
The government argues that systemic crime now poses a fundamental threat. The proposed law would apply to individuals with dual citizenship. It targets those who commit crimes severely damaging Sweden's interests. This includes gang leaders involved in systematic violence. The law would also cover people who obtained citizenship through bribery or coercion.
A separate constitutional change would criminalize participation in criminal organizations. This requires altering the constitutionally protected freedom of association. The government initiated an inquiry into these measures last summer. Minister Strömmer has previously indicated the law could also apply to far-right activity clubs.
These constitutional amendments represent a profound shift in Swedish legal philosophy. Sweden has historically maintained a very restrictive policy on citizenship revocation. This move aligns with broader European debates on security versus civil liberties. The proposals will now proceed to the Council on Legislation for review.
The Riksdag must approve the changes in two separate votes with a general election between them. This process ensures broad parliamentary consensus for altering the fundamental laws. The government aims for the new rules to take effect in early 2027.
Simultaneously, the government proposes to constitutionally protect the right to abortion. This creates a complex legislative package mixing security and social policy. Observers note the political strategy of pairing contentious security measures with popular social reforms.
The proposals have immediately sparked intense debate. Critics argue that revoking citizenship creates a two-tier system and could violate international law. Supporters contend that extraordinary threats require robust tools to protect society. The coming parliamentary discussions in the Riksdag building will test the coalition's ability to build the necessary supermajority.
This initiative signals the government's continued hardline stance against organized crime. It follows previous measures like increased surveillance and longer sentences. The success of these constitutional changes remains uncertain given the high parliamentary threshold required.