IOGT-NTO welcomes lobby register proposal – but warns of loopholes

Lucas Nilsson

08.05.2025 - IOGT-NTO has welcomed the proposal to introduce a lobby register in Sweden, calling it a step in the right direction toward greater transparency and stronger democracy.

“We citizens have the right to know who is influencing our elected representatives,” said Lucas Nilsson, president of IOGT-NTO.

According to information reported by Dagens Nyheter, the Transparency Committee is preparing to present a proposal to the government and parliament that would require lobbyists to disclose how they attempt to influence political decisions. IOGT-NTO supports the proposal as a key development in promoting openness and democratic accountability.

“A lobby register is essential for building trust between citizens and decision-makers. It’s about protecting democracy,” Nilsson said.

However, the organization warns that the current version of the proposal may not go far enough and risks leaving significant loopholes.

“It is unfortunate that meetings not directly tied to a specific bill are excluded from the register. This makes it harder for citizens and journalists to track who is influencing politics behind closed doors,” Nilsson continued.

IOGT-NTO argues that a strong and effective lobby register is a vital tool in a modern democracy, especially as more actors with considerable financial resources seek to shape political outcomes.

“It’s time to take transparency seriously. We citizens have the right to know who is influencing the decisions that affect us all. We now hope the Riksdag adopts the proposal and continues to develop the register going forward,” Nilsson concluded.

In 2022, IOGT-NTO, together with several other civil society organizations, published the report The blind spot of the open society, highlighting the need for a lobbying transparency register in Sweden to help safeguard democracy.

Link to the report: IOGT.se PDF: det-oppna-samhallets-blinda-flack.pdf