Concerns about the spread of infection when mistrust is voted in the Riksdag

Since March last year, only 55 of the Riksdag's 349 members have participated simultaneously in debates and voting in the Riksdag's chamber, following a joint decision by the parties.

But for Monday's no-confidence vote, the entire Riksdag must reconvene, despite the pandemic. 

The desire for oral protection requirements

- You can not have a no-confidence vote with a 55-Riksdag.

According to the form of government, it is required that more than half of the members of the Riksdag vote no for the government to fall.

Then you have to convene the entire Riksdag to try a question of no confidence, says Speaker Andreas Norlén (M).  

Several parties that SVT has spoken to now want to see a requirement for mouth protection.

There is also concern among some members to go to the Riksdag collectively, for congestion inside and outside the House and that some members may come to the Riksdag despite symptoms of covid-19.

"Is it in such a hurry?"

- If it were in the way that many members have symptoms of covid-19, then the question will be, members come here and spread the infection, or there are not 175 members in place who can vote.

Then the question is, is it in such a hurry?

What is most important ?, says Annika Hirvonen, group leader for the Green Party.

At the same time, work is now in full swing to secure the corona vote in the Riksdag.

This could, for example, be about having mouth guards on site, and limiting the number of places in the stands and for photography, the President's press department states.

- We must try to handle it in as responsible and infectious a way as possible, says the Speaker Andreas Norlén.  

Members back this autumn

Now there will also be new information about what the work in the Riksdag will look like in the autumn.

A final decision on the autumn will be made in August by the parties' group leaders.

But the plan is that all members will then be in place again, according to the Social Democrats' group leader.

- The group leaders agree, between all eight parties, that we hope to open the Riksdag on 14 September with all 349 members again.

We do this, of course, provided that the vaccinations are ongoing and that the spread of infection does not increase, says Annelie Karlsson, group leader for the Social Democrats.