Kids registered illegally at Riksdag homes

Although against regulations, members of the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) have allowed their children to register a few of the Parliament's apartments as their permanent address. The apartments are primarily intended for short-term accommodation for members of parliament who live outside of Stockholm.

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One of the politicians in question is Liberal Party MP Anita Brodén, who allowed her daughter to stay in a 37 square metre apartment in Stockholm's Södermalm district.

According to neighbours, Brodén's daughter has been living there on a permanent basis, reported Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.

Brodén told DN that her daughter was staying there in spring 2009 while she looked for an apartment to purchase. Normally, members of parliament can live rent-free in the apartments. If any family members live with them, they have to pay a quarter of the apartment's normal rent.

Brodén said she notified the Riksdag administration that her daughter was living with her and that she has been paying rent. Marianne Bjernbäck, head of the unit for services to members of parliament, confirmed the arrangement, but told DN that someone in the administration had made a mistake:

“We didn't intend for children to be registered as permanently living in one of these apartments.”

Brodén agreed that her case had attracted attention because the practice was not allowed, and said that she would make contact with the Riksdag administration to find out what the rules actually are.

At the same time, Brodén emphasizes that she has been following the administration's directives and that these are in accordance with information on the Riksdag intranet.

DN also reported that Social Democrat and former deputy minister of finance Sven-Erik Österberg has also allowed his children to register a Riksdag apartment as their permanent address. However, his daughter has not actually lived there but has another apartment.

For some reason, she had difficulty receiving mail at her own residence and therefore used the Riksdag apartment as a mailing address. According to Bjernbäck, this is also against regulations.

Members of parliament are allowed to have a family member live in the apartments with them. But relatives are only allowed to live there alone on occasion. The apartments are intended for members of parliament who have a commute from Stockholm of more than 50 kilometres.