The Swedish government on Thursday abandoned its controversial proposal to allow 13-year-olds to be sentenced to prison, bowing to last-minute resistance from liberal lawmakers who threatened to scuttle the reform. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer confirmed the retreat in a press conference, announcing that the cabinet will instead propose lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14. “The government has listened to the debate and adjusted its proposal accordingly,” Strömmer said. The climb-down marks a rare setback for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s centre-right coalition and follows days of intense lobbying by liberal MPs who argued the original plan risked undermining Sweden’s reputation for progressive justice policies .
The reversal comes just weeks after the justice ministry circulated draft legislation that would have permitted courts to sentence children as young as 13 to detention for serious crimes. The proposal sparked a backlash across the political spectrum, with the liberal Centre Party and the Christian Democrats both warning that it would erode trust in the justice system. “This was a prestige issue for the government, and they have now suffered a clear defeat,” political reporter Anette Holmqvist told *Expressen*’s *Politikrummet* podcast .
The government’s retreat also reflects broader unease within its own ranks. Several liberal MPs had privately signalled they would vote against the reform if it reached the floor of parliament, forcing the justice ministry to rethink its approach. “The signals were clear: this bill would not pass,” one senior government source told *Svenska Dagbladet* .
The revised proposal, which will now be submitted for parliamentary scrutiny, is expected to face less opposition but still requires cross-party support to pass. The Centre Party, which has long advocated for raising the age of criminal responsibility, welcomed the government’s U-turn. “We have argued for years that 13 is too young,” Centre Party leader Muharrem Demirok told reporters. “We will now scrutinise the new proposal carefully to ensure it aligns with our principles.”
The government’s reversal also raises questions about the future of its broader justice agenda. The original plan was part of a wider package of reforms aimed at toughening penalties for juvenile offenders, including longer pre-trial detention and mandatory rehabilitation programmes. Justice officials have not indicated whether these measures will be scaled back in light of Thursday’s decision.
Political analysts suggest the government’s setback could embolden opposition parties ahead of next year’s general election. “This sends a signal that the government is not invincible,” said political scientist Jenny Madestam at Stockholm University. “It shows that even on flagship issues, they can be forced to back down.”
The government now faces the challenge of rebuilding consensus while maintaining its tough-on-crime credentials. Justice Minister Strömmer insisted that the revised proposal would still deliver on the government’s promise to protect society. “We are lowering the age to 14 because we believe it strikes the right balance between accountability and rehabilitation,” he said. The proposal will be debated in parliament next month.