The Swedish Parliament passed a hotly contested law lowering the minimum age from 18 to 16 years for changing one's sex in the civil registry. After six hours of heated debate, the deputies adopted the text by 234 votes for and 94 against.
The text, which should simplify this procedure for changing one's sex, has weakened conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, according to analysts. For those under 18, the agreement of parents, a doctor, and the National Directorate of Health and Social Affairs will be necessary. A diagnosis of "gender dysphoria," establishing that a person suffers due to a discrepancy between their biological sex and the gender with which they identify, will no longer be required. For Muharrem Demirok, head of the Center Party, "Sweden finally has a modern law on gender identity" which will allow those concerned to have "a functional life." "I find this deplorable (...) and in the case where it concerns children, as is the case here, it is even more sensitive," responded Jimmie kesson, leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats party.