The Swedish Republican Association

The Swedish Republican Association is a politically and religiously independent association that promotes the introduction of a republic government by democratic means.

Contact us

If you want to get in contact with the Swedish Republican Association, you can send an e-mail to:
info@repf.se

If you want to call or send a text:
+46 768 717722

To send regular mail the address is:
Republikanska Föreningen
Karlbergsvägen 86B, 4 tr
113 35 Stockholm
Sweden

Contact person

Helena Tolvhed
board member, international secretary
helena.tolvhed@repf.se

"Hereditary monarchy is at odds with the idea of universal human equality."

 

International links

• Alliance of European Republican Movements
• International Anti-Monarchy Web Directory
• Den Republikanske Grundlovsbevægelse - Denmark
• Ja til republik - Denmark
• Afskaf monarkiet - Denmark
• Republic - UK
• Nieuw Republikeins Genootschap - The Netherlands
• Pro Republica - The Netherlands
• Republikeinse Kring - Belgium
• Citizens for a Canadian Republic
• The Australian Republican Movement
• The Republican Movement of New Zealand
• Common Cause - Commonwealth
• Joan's Mad Monarchs Series
  
  

A Swedish Republic

The policy statement of the Swedish Republican Association

Introduction

The Swedish constitution was democratized during the last century, and the Instrument of Government from 1974, which is one of Sweden's four fundamental laws and deals with the way in which Sweden is to be governed, is still one of the most modern constitutions in the world. Its first paragraph establishes that all public power in Sweden proceeds from the people and that Swedish democracy is founded on the free formation of opinion and on universal and equal suffrage. This shall be realized through a representative and parliamentary polity and through local self-government. The public power is exercised under the law. There is a solid popular support for the democratic institutions in Sweden.

Nevertheless, one serious restriction of the Swedish democracy still remains, a historical remainder unacceptable to any modern democratic society - the monarchy.

What does the Swedish Republican Association want?
The Swedish Republican Association wants to see a democratic form of government in Sweden. It shall be done according to democratic principals and in coherence with the regulations of the Swedish constitution. The republic form of government shall be democratic and independent from political and religious ideologies.

Reasons for establishing a republic form of government
We have a political democracy in Sweden. This means that there is no other source for public power but the people itself. All state functions answers to democratic legislations. No public office can be inherited or reserved for a person belonging to a certain social class. Except for one office - the head of state.

The head of state enjoys the most important official position in Sweden and is the highest formal representative of the state. In a monarchy the monarch becomes head of state because of his or her ancestry. The monarch is in principle legally irresponsible and retains his or her office for life. As a consequence personal and public power is indivisibly fused. The monarch cannot be impeached. The monarch cannot be removed from office without a change in the constitution. Hence, the monarchy is incompatible with democratic principles and a disgrace to a democratic society.

The individuals who are born into the royal family and possess the right to the throne are denied the foundational right to govern their own lives. From their first breath they are assigned an existence in the relentless scrutiny of the public eye. They are obligated by the constitution to believe in God in accordance with the »pure evangelical faith«. The first born of each generation is predestined to one day become the head of state and stay in that office until his or her death. Such an arrangement is irreconcilable with human rights.

Such an important position as the head of state should be appointed in accordance with democratic proceedings and be based on qualifications. This is valid if the head of state has a more formal role as well as if he or she will enjoy direct political power.

The monarchy also affects the public debate and discussion in an obvious way and divert the attention from the results of the democratic decision making process, which is important for everyone in a democratic society. It fosters a sense of fawning and submissive behaviour among the public decision-makers before this obsolete institution; a behaviour far from what should be expected from the democratically elected representatives. There is an antiquated myth of noble blood incorporated in the idea of monarchy. This can affect opinions also in other contexts.

On a global level, the republic is the dominant form of government and is held as self-evident in most of the nations outside Europe. Most of the people in the world are citizens in nations with a republic form of government. Sweden is also moving fast, from an economic and social point of view, towards an international integration where the republic form of government stands out as the natural point of departure for a modern constitution in the cooperation with other countries.

The Swedish monarchy today
According to the Instrument of Government from 1974, the Swedish monarch should fulfil the following duties:

• The monarch is the head of state.
• He or she heads the special cabinet council held when there is a change of government, and also the regular "information councils" with the members of the Government.
• He or she opens the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament, every year.
• He or she chairs meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, the members of which are appointed by the Riksdag to hold consultations with the Government on foreign affairs.
• He or she is the foremost representative of the Swedish defence establishment and holds supreme rank in each of the service arms, as well as being honorary commander (Colonel-in-Chief) of certain military units.
• As Sweden's foremost representative in relation to other countries, the monarch receives the credentials of foreign ambassadors and signs those of Sweden's ambassadors.

The formal authorities of the Swedish monarch are greatly restricted, but looking at the list above that does not mean that the head of state lacks political significance. By making statements in political questions he or she influences the debate through his or her unique position without having to take political responsibility. Due to the massive medial attention they receive, the royal family has a decisive influence on the public opinion. In a crisis situation, the monarch can threaten to abdicate and thus have a massive impact on the political outcome of that crisis.

How much does the current monarchy cost and how much would a Swedish republic cost?
A Republic would hardly prove to be less expensive than the current monarchy. The royal castles represent a national cultural heritage and they will, along with the representative functions, need to be administrated and organized in the future republic. However, in a republic the people would be able to have full insight in how the means of the head of state are being employed, which is not the case today. Furthermore, the debate about what type of constitution to have should not revolve around money; it cannot in itself be the decisive argument. The argumentation for the establishment of a Swedish republic has to build on the democratic principles.

How to phase out the current monarchy
Now living members of the Bernadotte family have been given the prospect of life as royalties and have thus not had the possibility to prepare for a civil life. This should be taken into consideration when changing to a republic constitution. However, members of the Bernadotte family born after an established date should receive no other benefits than your average Swedish citizen.

The so called royal castles are already owned by the state; thus, the next appropriate step is for the state to assume ownership and management of the Royal Djurgården Administration. Items, companies and museum pieces (e.g. the regalia), gifts bestowed upon the monarchs throughout time etcetera is essentially regarded as state property and will for that reason not follow the Bernadotte family as personal belongings. Apart from this, the family’s assets and possible future rights of disposal will be settled in an agreement with the state.

Realization and time plan
The Swedish head of state shall be elected either indirectly by the Riksdag or directly by the people. A form of government that does not include a head of state, or in which the functions of a head of state is tied to an existing office, can also be employed. These questions and all further practical and legal issues will be subjected to commissions and discussed according to customary procedures before altering the form of government.

The necessary constitutional adjustments needed for introducing the republic shall be submitted to the Swedish people in a legislative referendum that shall be preceded by a broad and public debate.

The transition to a republic form of government can be made at the turn of the year following the definite decision for a constitutional change, or at another point in time.

Be serious about democracy!
The republic issue is sometimes dismissed as being insignificant and the current monarchy is accepted because it »doesn’t inflict any serious harm«. This is a dangerous attitude. He who is ready to accept the monarchy gravely reduces his own credibility regarding other matters of democracy. Democracy needs to be treated seriously. Its principles cannot be discarded out of convenience or by the argument that it is a negligible issue.

Dela med andra!