STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Sweden’s parliament voted Thursday to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 14, as the right-wing government intensifies its crackdown on gang-related crime ahead of the country’s national election.
A total of 281 lawmakers supported the measure, including members of the opposition Social Democrats, while 66 voted against it.
The government had initially proposed lowering the age to 13, allowing younger children to face imprisonment. It withdrew that proposal in June after failing to secure enough parliamentary support.
Sweden has struggled with gang violence for more than a decade, particularly over control of the illegal drug trade. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s minority conservative government, which took office in 2022 with support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, has made fighting crime a central policy priority.
A government-appointed commissioner had recommended setting the criminal responsibility age at 14. However, the government later proposed 13 despite opposition from most of the 126 organizations consulted, including police and prison authorities.
Parliament also approved changes that reduce sentence discounts previously given to young offenders. People under 18 can now receive prison sentences of up to 18 years.
The new law will take effect Sept. 10, just three days before Sweden holds its general election.
A Demoskop poll for Svenska Dagbladet showed the center-left opposition leading the governing parties and their far-right ally, 51% to 47%, although the gap has narrowed.