Sweden Bolsters Civilian Defence and Criminalises Psychological Violence in Five-Bill Legislative Push

Civilian Defence: Preparing for the Worst

Proposition 2025/26:142, "A Stronger Protection for the Civilian Population During Heightened Preparedness," was filed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin. Referred to the Defence Committee, the bill proposes updating Sweden's civil-defence framework—much of which dates from Cold War-era legislation that was allowed to atrophy after 1990—to meet modern security threats.

The timing is deliberate. Sweden joined NATO in March 2024, and the government has since accelerated a comprehensive defence overhaul. The civilian-protection bill complements substantial increases in military spending and the reintroduction of expanded conscription. It addresses critical gaps in shelter capacity, evacuation logistics and the responsibilities of municipalities and regions during a crisis.

Civil-defence preparedness has risen sharply on the political agenda since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has warned that the country's shelter capacity is inadequate for the current population, and municipal emergency-planning resources remain insufficient.

Criminalising Psychological Violence: A New Legal Frontier

Proposition 2025/26:138, "A Special Criminal Provision for Psychological Violence," marks a significant expansion of Swedish criminal law. Filed by Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, the bill proposes making sustained psychological abuse a standalone criminal offence, separate from existing provisions on unlawful threat and harassment.

Sweden already criminalises patterns of domestic abuse, but legal experts have long argued that isolated acts of psychological violence—coercive control, gaslighting and emotional manipulation—often fall through the cracks of existing legislation. The new provision would allow prosecutors to bring charges for psychological violence even without evidence of physical harm.

The bill has been referred to the Justice Committee. Victims' advocacy organisations have broadly welcomed the proposal, while defence lawyers have raised concerns about evidentiary standards.

ILO Conventions and Remaining Bills

Proposition 2025/26:134 seeks parliamentary approval for Sweden to ratify two ILO conventions on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work and on occupational safety and health. The ratification would bring Sweden in line with 45 other countries.

The remaining propositions address migration policy (Prop. 2025/26:146 on rules for researchers and doctoral students) and financial regulation (Prop. 2025/26:125 on shares on MTF platforms). Both reflect targeted policy refinements rather than major political shifts.

Foreign Affairs Committee: Israel-Palestine Report Divides Parties

The Foreign Affairs Committee published report 2025/26:UU15 on "The Situation in Israel and Palestine." The committee recommends that the Riksdag reject all opposition motions—a position that drew ten formal reservations from the Social Democrats, Left Party, Green Party and Centre Party.

The rejected motions covered suspending the EU-Israel association agreement, imposing targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers, ensuring continued Swedish funding for UNRWA, and halting demolitions of Palestinian structures. The governing coalition maintains that Sweden should pursue its Middle East policy through EU channels rather than unilateral parliamentary declarations.

What It Means

Today's five-bill package reflects a government in acceleration mode with the September 2026 election seven months away. The civilian-defence and psychological-violence bills are likely to dominate political debate in the weeks ahead, testing opposition parties' willingness to cooperate on security and justice policy.