The government is withdrawing the much-debated proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 years. The reason is that the proposal is considered to lack sufficient support in the parliament – as several members from the Tidö coalition are said to have threatened to vote no.

The proposal, which was presented earlier this spring at the initiative of the Sweden Democrats, would have meant that, in certain cases, persons as young as 13 could be sentenced to prison. The issue has sparked strong reactions and faced criticism from the opposition.

– It will not gather enough support in the parliament, says Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) to Expressen.

Several of the Tidö coalition’s own members are said to have threatened to vote no to the proposal.

– There are a few members even within our coalition who are very hesitant, says Gunnar Strömmer (M).

Instead, the government intends to, within a few weeks, present a new bill where the age of criminal responsibility is proposed to be lowered to 14 years. The Minister for Justice describes this issue as the most difficult handled in the parliament during this term and believes it should not be decided by uncertain votes.

See the press conference:

READ MORE: Tidö Government: Next Summer, Criminal 13-Year-Olds Will Be Imprisoned