Sweden moves to make its public watchdogs harder to sack

Sweden’s parliamentary watchdogs would become harder to dismiss under a constitutional proposal requiring broad agreement among MPs before removing an ombudsman who has lost parliament’s confidence.

The Constitution Committee backed the change on Thursday. Removal would require support from three quarters of those voting, with that group also amounting to more than half of all MPs.

The same rule would cover deputy ombudsmen. It would replace the ordinary majority rule for these decisions and strengthen the constitutional position of the office.

The Parliamentary Ombudsmen, known as JO, scrutinise whether public authorities and their staff follow the law and treat individuals correctly. Their remit includes courts and other public bodies, and they operate independently of the government.

The reform changes how parliament can remove those watchdogs after losing confidence in them. It does not announce the dismissal of any current office-holder.

Parliament gave the proposal its first approval in June 2023. A second matching decision is required following an election, with the final debate and vote scheduled for 4 November. The proposed starting date is 1 January 2027.

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