SWEDEN

Parliamentary Ombudsmen

THE INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT

(excerpt)

Chapter 12. PARLIAMENTARY CONTROL

Art. 6

The Riksdag shall eleet one or more Ombudsmen to supervise under instructions laid down by the Riksdag the application in public service of laws and other statutes. An Ombudsman may initiate legal proceedings in the cases indicated in these instructions.

An Ombudsman may be present at the deliberations of a court or an administrative autliority and shall have access to the minutes and other documents of any such court or authority. Any court or administrative authority and any State or local government official shall provide an Ombudsman with such information and reports as he may request. A similar obligation shall also be incumbent on any other person coming under the supervision of the Ombudsman. A public prosecutor shall assist an Ombudsman on request. Further provisions concerning the Ombudsmen are set forth in the Riksdag Act. 

1 Some amendments to the Riksdag Act and to the Act with Instructions for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen have been decided by the Parliament over the past few years. The most important amendment gives Parliament the right to elect one or a number of Deputy Ombudsmen for terms of two years besides the four Parliamentary Ombudsmen.

THE RIKSDAG ACT

(excerpt)

Chapter 8. CERTAIN OFFICIALS AND BODIES

Article 10

The Riksdag shall have four Ombudsmen (Parliamentary Ombudsmen), one Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, and three Parliamentary Ombudsmen. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman shall be Administrative Director of the Office of the Ombudsmen, and shall decide the main thrust of its activities.

The election of the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman shall be conducted separately, and the other Parliamentary Ombudsmen shall be elected individually. When an Ombudsman is elected by a secret ballot, the procedure described in the second paragraph of Article 1 shall be applied.

An Ombudsman is elected for a term lasting from the time of his election, or such subsequent date as the Riksdag may determine, until a new election has been held in the fourth year thereafter. At the request of the Committee on the Constitution, however, the Riksdag may relieve of his mandate prior to that time an Ombudsman who has forfeited the confidence of the Riksdag.

If an Ombudsman retires before his term of office has expired. the Riksdag shall elect a successor for a new four-year term of office as soon as possible.

If an Ombudsman is prevented for a long time by illness or other cause, from exercising his office, the Riksdag shall elect some other person to serve in his place for as long as such obstacle persists.

Chapter 9. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PERSONNEL

ADMINISTRATION

Article 8.

A decision may be taken to institute proceedings against an official named below for an offence committed in the execution of his appointment or duties:

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2. In the case of legal proceedings against a member of the Riksdag Board of Administration, the Election Review Committee, or the Riksdag Complaints Board, or against a parliamentary Ombudsman or the Clerk of the Chamber, only by the Committee on the Constitution.