The government wants to stop the flow of money from LO to S

In an investigation initiated in 2023, the aim was to review the rules for financing political parties. Now that it is clear that the investigation will not propose any measures regarding the funding of political parties by trade union organizations, the government is reportedly going to make a separate attempt to ensure that this is stopped.

In June 2023, a parliamentary committee was tasked with reviewing the rules. One of the issues to be addressed was whether consent from individual members should be required for financial support to parties from organizations in the labor market.

There is only one party that receives financial support from an organization in the labor market – the Social Democrats, who receive several million kronor each year from, among others, LO.

There was considerable irritation within the Social Democrats at the prospect of a reduced inflow of money.

It is now clear, however, that the committee will not propose any measures specifically regarding the funding of political parties by trade union organizations, as it is claimed that this could conflict with the freedom of association.

At the same time, there are reports that the government wants to give the committee a new mandate to once again examine such regulation.

“It is true that additional directives are being prepared for the investigation. The issue of how organizations in the labor market use membership fees to support political parties is of fundamental importance. The issue is already included in the assignment, and it is important that it is more thoroughly examined in the investigation, in which all parties are involved. We will return to the issue,” says Caroline Opsahl, press secretary to the Minister of Justice, to TV4.

Anger within the S party

This has further irritated the Social Democrats.

“They choose to go against the committee’s conclusions to undermine the opposition’s financing. This is the second time in less than a year that they have tried to use legislative power to strike against the opposition,” says an S source.

Previously, the government has also announced a tightening of the rules for party lottery operations, following the many scandals surrounding the Social Democrats’ lottery activities.