“Unique” not being able to revoke citizenship

Unique not being able to revoke citizenship
Share the article

Save the article

full screen Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M). Stock Photography Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) wants Sweden to maximize the scope of international law to reconsider citizenship.

According to him, it can be done in some cases, even if it leads to statelessness.

The question of when it will be possible to withdraw citizenship has gained new momentum after a move from the Sweden Democrats.

Strömmer points out that many countries today have such possibilities in some cases.

– It is not unique to have that type of opportunity, rather we are unique in not having it, he says.

The so-called constitutional investigation that was appointed earlier this year looks at that question, among other things.

– It is a reasonable ambition to maximize the opportunity within the rule of law norms we must act within, he says.

Strömmer points out that international law provides the possibility to revoke citizenship in two cases. One is about when people commit, for example, terrorist crimes or other crime that threatens the system. The second concerns people who have bribed or threatened their citizenship or provided false information.

In the first case, however, the person is required to have dual citizenship. In the second case, according to Strömmer, international law allows citizenship to be revoked even if it leads to statelessness.

– I personally see no obstacles to that, but we’ll see what the investigation comes to, says Strömmer.

In the inquiry’s directive, however, the starting point is that revocation of citizenship in Sweden can only take place when a person has dual citizenship.

afbl-general-01