Udvalget for Forretningsordenen 2024-25
UFO Alm.del Bilag 71
Offentligt
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SWEDEN - RIKSDAG
Reply to the ECPRD request
6116- The offering of a financial advantage in exchange for the resignation
of a seat in parliament
DENMARK - FOLKETINGET
Request date:
02/07/2025
Addressed to:
BULGARIA , LATVIA , POLAND , CZECHIA , - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT , CROATIA , GERMANY , IRELAND ,
ESTONIA , FRANCE , LITHUANIA , HUNGARY , CYPRUS , LUXEMBOURG , FINLAND , GREECE , ROMANIA , SLOVENIA ,
ITALY , UNITED KINGDOM , BELGIUM , MALTA , PORTUGAL , SPAIN , AUSTRIA , NETHERLANDS , NORWAY , SLOVAKIA ,
SWEDEN
Subject areas:
Corruption, whistleblowing
Deadline
28/07/2025
Request 6116 The offering of a financial advantage in exchange for the resignation of a seat in parliament
The Riksdag Administration, provides the following answer to the following questions. 1) Is there any legislation or other form of
regulation, such as a code of conduct, that prohibits i. a Member of Parliament from accepting a financial advantage on the condition
that they resign their seat; ii. the act of offering such a proposal, including by individuals from the ember’s own party. 2) If so, what
does the regulation entail, and how is it enforced?
Reply provided by
Erik Norlander
([email protected], +46 8 786 56 63) on
2025-07-18
ECPRD Correspondent:
RYDBERG David
 UFO, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 71: Offentlige svar på ECPRD-forespørgsel til øvrige europæiske parlamenter om ydelser af en økonomisk fordel i forbindelse med nedlæggelse af et parlamentsmandat.
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Is there any legislation or other form of regulation, such as a code of conduct, that prohibits: A)
a Member of Parliament from accepting a financial advantage on the condition that they resign
their seat; B) the act of offering such a proposal, including by individuals from the members
own party.
The Riksdag Administration, provides the following answer to the questions put.
Regarding the code of conduct, see
A Code of Conduct for the members of the Riksdag
from 2022. The code of conduct is a
declaration of intent on behalf of all members of the Riksdag, but is not legally binding (p. 9). The group leaders are responsible for
ensuring that the code of conduct serves as a guide for the members of their own party group (p. 8). Reference is made there to the
provisions on taking and giving bribes in Chapter 10 of the Swedish Criminal Code (p. 7). Anyone who carries out an assignment
and receives, accepts a promise of or requests an undue benefit for the performance of the assignment may be convicted of taking
a bribe (Chapter 10, Section 5 a of the Swedish Criminal Code), while anyone who gives, promises or offers an undue benefit in
cases referred to in Section 5 a may be convicted of giving a bribe (Chapter 10, Section 5 b).
The Code of Conduct provides guidance on what may constitute an improper benefit for the exercise of the duties of a member of
parliament and is therefore punishable under the Criminal Code (pp. 14-17). Among other things, the following excerpt from the
preparatory work for the Criminal Code is cited (Government Bill 2011/12:79 p. 43): “Improper is any transaction that objectively has
the potential to influence the performance of certain tasks or to be perceived as a reward for how tasks have been performed.” (p.
16). It is further stated that a member of parliament should not expose himself or herself to the risk of even being suspected of being
influenced by irrelevant wishes or considerations (p. 16). Examples of benefits that would be improper if offered as a result of the
member’s duties include “gifts in cash, securities and the like” (p. 17).
Reference:
Alexander Edsjö, Legal advisor, Legal Services Department, Riksdag Administration. Written information 2025-07-17.
If so, what does the regulation entail, and how is it enforced?
Please see the answer above.