Sweden’s citizenship withdrawal plan will pass to next government

Sweden will not complete its plan to withdraw citizenship from some dual nationals before the 13 September election. The next Government and Parliament will decide whether it becomes law.

Migration Minister Johan Forssell told Ekot that the Government expects to send a draft to the Council on Legislation shortly before polling day. Ekot reported that Socialdemokraterna and Vänsterpartiet declined to comment on the coming ordinary law.

Nothing changes today. Parliament gave the first of two matching approvals needed to alter the Constitution on 20 May. The second vote must take place after the election. A future government would then still have to submit an ordinary-law bill and win parliamentary approval.

The March inquiry would allow withdrawal only when a person also holds another nationality. It covers citizenship obtained through knowingly false, incomplete or misleading information or other improper conduct. For serious crimes, it offers two alternatives: security and international crimes, or a broader category of crimes seriously damaging Sweden’s vital interests.

The Swedish Institute for Human Rights rejects the proposal, warning that it risks creating unequal levels of citizenship and that some dual nationals cannot simply give up their other nationality. Socialdemokraterna backed the constitutional opening in May but said the eventual law must be precise, proportionate and compatible with international law. Vänsterpartiet and Miljöpartiet opposed it.

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