Sweden is preparing to change the constitution to be able to take away the passports of people who obtained citizenship by fraudulent means, or who are a threat to the state, the government said on Wednesday.

In addition to the citizenship changes, the government also proposed extending the period before immigrants can apply for citizenship from five years to eight years. Another recommendation from the committee includes incorporating the right to abortion into the Swedish constitution.

This comes as the Nordic nation grapples with ‘violent extremism’ and ‘systemic and organised crime’ amid issues with asylum seekers.

However, Sweden's centre-right governing parties, backed by the more radical anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, want the changes to tackle the dramatic rise in gang crime and the