kommunfullmäktige

Kommunfullmäktige, or the municipal council, is the highest decision-making body in a Swedish municipality. It is composed of elected representatives who serve four-year terms, chosen by residents in municipal elections. The number of members varies between municipalities, reflecting local population size and legal provisions.

The council’s main responsibilities include adopting the municipality’s budget and financial statements, setting strategic goals and policies for local affairs, and deciding on major plans such as land use, housing, and local taxation within the framework of national law. It also enacts ordinances and resolutions and holds the administration accountable through reporting and oversight mechanisms.

In the governance structure, the kommunfullmäktige elects the kommunstyrelse (municipal executive committee) and appoints other committees and boards that prepare and implement the council’s decisions. The kommunstyrelse handles daily administration and prepares matters for the fullmäktige, while the fullmäktige reviews, amends, or rejects those proposals. To ensure accountability, the council also appoints auditors or a municipal audit scheme to examine financial management and performance.

Meetings of the kommunfullmäktige are typically open to the public, with decisions and minutes published for transparency. Members often form political groupings, and coalition dynamics influence outcomes, though decisions are generally decided by majority rule in accordance with the Municipal Act (Kommunallagen) and related statutes.

Overall, the kommunfullmäktige provides a local democratic forum for citizens to shape municipal governance, budgets, and long-term planning, while supervising the elected administration and municipal services.