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Sweden’s Political Parties Move to Amend Citizenship Laws
In a significant development, Sweden’s political factions have reached a consensus that dual citizens who engage in crimes posing a threat to national security should forfeit their citizenship. This issue has garnered considerable attention in light of rising gang violence and organized crime within the country.
A committee comprising representatives from various political parties has proposed that the citizenship revocation policy could extend to individuals who either acquired their citizenship through deceitful means—such as bribery—or committed offenses that threaten the state or fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. However, the recommendations did not endorse the more severe measures suggested by the minority government, which aimed to revoke citizenship from gang leaders.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer emphasized that Sweden is currently confronting issues arising from “violent extremism, hostile state actors, and pervasive organized crime.” Yet, the existing Swedish constitution prohibits the revocation of citizenship, and legislative changes will be put to a parliamentary vote next year.
The centre-left opposition has expressed reservations regarding the proposed changes, arguing that the implications of revoking citizenship from gang members could set a concerning precedent, particularly since defining the criteria for such actions could prove challenging. Two parties—Left and the Greens—have explicitly stated their opposition to any legislation that would strip citizenship from individuals based on criminal activity.
Conversely, Sweden’s centre-right governing coalition, with support from the populist anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, is advocating for the reforms in response to a surge in gang-related crime and gun violence. Strommer remarked that the current proposals remain insufficient to address the complexity of criminal networks that orchestrate violence remotely, declaring, “The proposals I received today will not give us the possibility to take back Swedish citizenship from gang leaders in criminal networks sitting abroad, directing shootings and bombings and murders on Sweden’s streets.”
Looking regionally, the government has noted that neighboring Denmark allows citizenship revocation for actions deemed “seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the state,” a law recently broadened to encompass certain serious gang offenses. Sweden’s minority government is also tightening the criteria for citizenship applications.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell highlighted that, in the past year, law enforcement reported 600 instances of individuals applying for citizenship who were deemed security threats. Starting in June 2026, prospective Swedish citizens will need to reside in the country for eight years, up from the current five years, and they will also be required to complete assessments of their knowledge of the Swedish language and societal norms.
Forssell stated that the process of becoming a Swedish citizen had been “far too easy” and expressed a desire to foster a sense of pride associated with citizenship, declaring, “We are going to build a Sweden that sticks together, where Swedish citizenship matters more.” He further emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating that all children have the right to participate in sports and activities, and noted, “If you don’t accept that, Sweden is not the country for you.”
Moreover, Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, has called for more stringent measures, proposing that new citizens should pledge loyalty to Sweden. However, this suggestion did not make it into the final recommendations of the government inquiry.
Kirsti Laakso Utvik, who authored the inquiry, noted that the proposed changes aim to align Sweden’s policies more closely with those of other European nations.
Source
www.bbc.com