New Weapons Law, VAT Fraud Crackdown and a Legislative Blitz: Sweden's Parliament Fires on All Cylinders

Nine government propositions in a single day. Two tax committee reports addressing cross-border financial integrity. Four pointed written questions probing everything from horse industry policy to narcotics smuggling. Tuesday 17 February may lack the drama of a confidence vote, but it reveals a government machinery operating at peak legislative velocity — and an opposition scrambling to keep pace.

The Day's Main Story: A Legislative Avalanche from the Kristersson Government

The sheer volume of government propositions tabled today — nine, spanning four departments — represents the most productive single-day legislative output of the 2025/26 parliamentary session. The propositions range from the technically dense (Prop. 2025/26:126, mandating reporting obligations for e-identification companies) to the politically consequential (Prop. 2025/26:141, a comprehensive overhaul of Sweden's weapons law).

The new weapons law merits particular attention. Prop. 2025/26:141, prepared by the Justice Department, arrives as Sweden grapples with Europe's most acute gang violence crisis. The existing weapons legislation, a patchwork of amendments dating back decades, has long been criticised for failing to keep pace with the realities of organised crime. The new law promises a root-and-branch modernisation — one that dovetails with last week's landmark SOU on criminalising gang membership.

Meanwhile, the Finance Department was responsible for four of today's nine propositions. Prop. 2025/26:128 targets VAT fraud — a growing concern as cross-border e-commerce erodes traditional enforcement mechanisms. Prop. 2025/26:129 addresses transparency in the beneficial ownership register, while Prop. 2025/26:116 establishes a new operational crisis management function for the financial sector. Together, these proposals sketch a government intent on fortifying the financial system's defences against both criminal exploitation and systemic risk.

The Defence Department weighed in with Prop. 2025/26:123 on improved controls over explosive materials — a direct response to the surge in bombings linked to criminal networks. And from the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Prop. 2025/26:122 addresses the Swedish National Audit Office's criticism of the government's climate policy evaluation framework, conceding — at least implicitly — that Sweden's climate governance architecture needs reinforcement.

Parliamentary Pulse

The Tax Committee (SkU) was today's most active parliamentary organ, publishing two reports that together address the integrity of Sweden's financial borders. Committee report SkU19 deals with controls on cash movements at Sweden's internal borders — a measure that gains urgency as the Schengen area debates post-pandemic border management. SkU10, on future data protection frameworks for the Tax Agency, Customs, and the Enforcement Authority, tackles the perennial tension between effective tax enforcement and privacy rights.

These reports follow a productive stretch for the Riksdag's committee system. Since 10 February, eight committees have published reports spanning trade policy, animal welfare, parental leave reform, housing rights, transport, and education. The spring session's legislative conveyor belt is operating at full capacity, with floor votes on several of these reports expected in the coming days.

On the interpellation front, today's chamber witnessed vigorous debates. Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) fielded multiple rounds of questioning on vehicle environmental controls (interpellation 2025/26:317) and disability transport rights (2025/26:211). Labour Market Minister Johan Britz (L) defended re-employment rights policy (2025/26:303). Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa (M) sparred with the Social Democrats over democracy assistance to Iran (2025/26:310). Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) faced questions on tenant protections during renovations (2025/26:287, 314) and police drone capabilities (2025/26:302).

Government Watch

Beyond today's proposition blitz, the government's communications apparatus remained active over the weekend. Press releases announced the extension of migration support projects in Afghanistan, Finance Minister Svantesson's participation in the EU's Ecofin Council meeting, a high-level event supporting Ukraine's transport sector, a new strategy for reform cooperation with Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey, and strengthened support for young people leaving secure youth care facilities.

The Ecofin participation is worth noting in context: Sweden's fiscal positioning within the EU has grown more complex as the eurozone faces divergent growth trajectories. Svantesson's engagement signals that Stockholm intends to remain an active voice in European economic governance despite — or perhaps because of — Sweden's non-euro status.

On the consultation front, the government circulated for comment two major inquiries: the controversial proposal on stricter conditions for independent schools (SOU on "Skärpta villkor för friskolesektorn") and a review of radio and television distribution in the new media landscape (SOU 2025:116). Both consultations carry significant political weight heading into the 2026 pre-election period.

Opposition Dynamics

Today's four written questions reveal a diversifying opposition strategy. Centerpartiet's Stina Larsson submitted a question on the horse industry (HD11517) to Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (KD) — a niche topic that nonetheless resonates in rural constituencies where C is fighting to rebuild support. The Sweden Democrats' question on support for Iranian freedom-of-expression activists (HD11518) positions the party on the side of human rights advocacy, complicating the standard narrative of SD as solely an immigration-restriction party.

Most significantly, the Social Democrats filed two questions on drug smuggling: HD11520 on the lack of scanner equipment at ports and HD11519 on container-based narcotics trafficking. These questions target a visible policy vulnerability — the government has made combating organised crime its signature priority, yet the opposition is arguing that basic enforcement infrastructure remains inadequate. It's a pointed critique: you cannot fight drug gangs if you cannot intercept their supply chains.

Yesterday's interpellation from S on parking VAT (HD10341) — a repeat of a November 2025 question — and SD's explosive query about Swedish diplomatic connections to Jeffrey Epstein (HD11516) demonstrate the range of tools the opposition is deploying. The persistent parking VAT question suggests bureaucratic inertia the government has failed to resolve; the Epstein question ensures media attention on a topic the government would prefer to avoid.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday promises further committee activity as the reports published this week begin their journey to floor votes. The Finance Committee's supplementary budget amendment (FiU46) remains pending, and the wave of propositions tabled today will be distributed to the relevant standing committees for consideration — a process that will shape the Riksdag's agenda for weeks to come.

The weapons law overhaul (Prop. 2025/26:141) is likely to dominate political discourse as details emerge. Combined with the gang membership criminalisation SOU from last week, the government is constructing a formidable security legislative package that will test opposition parties' ability to offer coherent alternatives. For the Social Democrats in particular, the challenge is acute: how to critique specific provisions while acknowledging the genuine public demand for stronger action on gang violence.

What to Watch This Week

• Weapons Law Debate: Prop. 2025/26:141 will be referred to the Justice Committee — expect intense scrutiny of provisions that could affect lawful gun owners alongside criminal enforcement.
• VAT Fraud Measures: The Finance Department's anti-fraud proposition (Prop. 2025/26:128) enters committee review — implementation details will determine its effectiveness against cross-border schemes.
• Drug Smuggling Scrutiny: S's written questions on scanner equipment (HD11520) and container trafficking (HD11519) may prompt government response on enforcement infrastructure gaps.
• Committee Report Votes: Multiple committee reports from the past fortnight are approaching floor vote stage — coalition voting discipline will be tested across diverse policy areas.
• Free School Consultation: Responses to the stricter independent school conditions proposal will reveal the political fault lines ahead of the 2026 election.