Der “Ketchup-Effekt”
Ein genauerer Blick auf den Einsatz von Überwachungsmaßnahmen durch die schwedischen Behörden nach dem 11. September 2001 zeigt, dass diese Entwicklung am besten mit dem "Ketchup-Effekt" beschrieben werden kann: Wenn man die Flasche öffnet, kommt zunächst nichts heraus, und dann kommt alles auf einmal, und man hat sein Gericht ruiniert.
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The ‘Ketchup Effect’
A closer look at the use of surveillance measures by public authorities in Sweden following 9/11 reveals that once it began, the development can perhaps best be described as displaying a ‘ketchup effect’; where you open the bottle and at first nothing comes out, and then it all comes out at once and you have effectively ruined your dish (which, depending on your view of ketchup, may have been doomed from the moment you picked up the bottle).
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COVID-19 in Sweden: A Soft Power Approach
The Swedish political and legal response to the Covid-19 pandemic is best described as soft in terms of the character of the measures applied, and decentralized in terms of the division of powers and responsibilities. Swedish constitutional law does not provide for a state of emergency in a peace time crisis, such as a pandemic. Instead, the principle of statutory anticipation is used, which means that ordinary laws (with, in some cases, special provisions which can be activated) apply also in a time of crisis, e.g. the Public Order Act (POA), which allows the government to restrict the number of participants in public meetings or organized public events. Where these powers are deemed to be insufficient, the legislative procedure should be sufficiently flexible to allow new powers to be added relatively speedily. However, the events in 2020 showed that this approach suffers from several deficiencies.
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Sweden and COVID 19: A Constitutional Perspective
The Swedish government’s ways of handling the Corona crisis have drawn a lot of international attention. Sweden has tried to limit the spread of the disease by means of recommendations, rather than quarantines and curfews. There is no provision in the Swedish constitution for the declaration of a state of emergency in peacetime, only in war or where there is an imminent danger of war. Instead, the Swedish approach is to have delegations to the government, and sub-delegations to administrative agencies in a variety of statutes.
Continue reading >>Corona and the Absence of a Real Constitutional Debate in Sweden
Despite the horrors of the Corona disease, and indeed in order to combat it efficiently as a society, Sweden requires a robust and healthy constitutional and democratic debate. Corona is a human disaster and the suffering it spreads has yet to be accounted for. It is also an unprecedented challenge to our political and constitutional institutions and our almost nonexistent public discourse.
Continue reading >>Abortion Inside Swedish Democracy: the case of Ellinor Grimmark
Sweden prides itself on being one of the most “modern” nations, able to function more effectively than others and skilled in taking care of all of its citizens. The concept of freedom features prominently in Swedish political and social self-conceptions. It has been, therefore, rather startling to find the case of Ellinor Grimmark, a Swedish midwife who has unsuccessfully attempted to assert her right of conscientious objection to performing abortions.
Continue reading >>Vorratsdatenspeicherung: Schweden ist nicht Deutschland
Der EuGH hat Schweden wegen dessen Versäumnis, die EU-Richtlinie zur Vorratsdatenspeicherung umzusetzen, zu drei Millionen Euro Bußgeld verurteilt. Den gleichen Vorwurf könnte man auch Deutschland machen. Doch das Urteil taugt nicht für voreilige Schlüsse, denn die deutsche Situation ist mit der Schwedens nicht vergleichbar.
Continue reading >>Parlamentarische Verfassungskontrolle: Von Schweden lernen
In der letzten Woche waren Mitglieder des schwedischen Verfassungskomitees zu […]
Continue reading >>Von Karlsruhe nach Bückeburg – auf dem Weg zur europäischen Grundrechtsgemeinschaft
Es gibt Urteile, deren Tenor ist ein Paukenschlag – und […]
Continue reading >>Wo das Unionsrecht hinreicht, da reicht auch die Grundrechtecharta hin
Verstößt Schweden, wenn es Steuerhinterzieher doppelt bestraft, gegen die Europäische […]
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