GOVERNMENT
Sweden's government is a limited constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Popular government in Sweden rests upon ancient tradition. The Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) stems from tribal courts (Ting) and the election of kings during the Viking era. It became a permanent institution in the 15th century.
King Carl XVI Gustaf (Bernadotte) ascended to the throne on September 15, 1973. His authority is symbolic and representational. Executive authority is vested in the Cabinet, which consists of a prime minister and 22 ministers who run the governmental departments. The current "Alliance" government, led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, came to power in September 2006.
Sweden has three levels of government: national, regional, and local. In addition, there is a European level, which has acquired increasing importance following Sweden's entry into the EU. Parliamentary, municipal, and county council elections are held every four years. The 349-member unicameral Riksdag has legislative powers, and is in session generally from September through mid-June. Proposals for new laws are presented by the government, which also implements decisions made by the Riksdag. The government is assisted in its work by the Government Offices, comprising a number of ministries, and some 300 central government agencies and public administrations.
Sweden is divided into 21 counties (län), 18 county councils (landsting), 290 municipalities (kommuner), and two semi-independent regions. Each county is headed by a governor, who is appointed by the central government. The counties coordinate administration with national political goals for the county. The county council (landsting) is a regional government that is popularly elected with particular responsibility for health and medical care. The municipalities are local governments that deal with issues such as education, public transportation and social welfare. Elected municipal councils are headed by executive committees roughly analogous to the boards of commissioners found in some U.S. cities.
Swedish law draws upon Germanic and Roman traditions. It is neither as codified as French law nor as dependent on judicial precedent as U.S. law. Legislative and judicial institutions include, in addition to the Riksdag, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Labor Court, the Law Council, District Courts and Courts of Appeal, and the Public Prosecutor's Office. The parliamentary ombudsmen and the Chancellor of Justice oversee the application of laws with particular attention to abuses of authority.
POLITICAL
CONDITIONS
Ordinary general elections to the Swedish parliament are held every fourth year on the third Sunday in September. County council and municipal council elections take place at the same time. The last elections were held in September 2006. There is a barrier rule intended to prevent very small parties from gaining representation in the parliament. A party must thus receive at least 4% of the votes in the entire country or 12% in a single electoral district to qualify for any seats.
Elections to the Riksdag were held on September 17, 2006. The Alliance for
Sweden (a coalition of four center-right parties--the Moderate Party, the
Liberal Party, the Christian Democrat, and the Center Party) won 178 of the 349
seats, securing Moderate Fredrik Reinfeldt the position of Prime Minister. The
2006 election results for Sweden's major parties were as follows: the Social
Democratic Party (34.99%; 130 seats), the Moderate Party (26.23%; 97 seats), the
Center Party (7.88%; 29 seats), the Liberal Party (7.54%; 28 seats), the
Christian Democrats (6.59%; 24 seats), the Left Party (5.85%; 22 seats), and the
Green Party (5.24%; 19 seats).
The Social Democratic Party has a base of blue-collar workers and public sector
employees. It derives much of its power from strong links with the National
Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents blue-collar
workers. The party program combines a commitment to social welfare programs and
government direction of the economy. The Social Democratic Party has led the
government for 65 of the 76 years since 1932; the 2006 election ended its most
recent term of 12 consecutive years in office.
The Moderate Party emphasizes personal freedom, free enterprise, and reduction
of the public-sector growth rate, while still supporting most of the social
benefits introduced since the 1930s. The party also supports a strong defense
and Sweden's membership in the European Union (EU). Its voter base is urban
business people and professionals, but the party also attracts young voters,
main-street shop owners, and, to some extent, blue-collar workers. Moderate
Party Leader Reinfeldt followed an election strategy of remodeling his party as
"New Moderates," moving away from the party's right-wing, upper-class roots to appeal to a large middle ground of voters, and successfully winning over many who had until then supported the SDP, as well as others who had previously voted for the smaller, non-socialist parties. Reinfeldt was instrumental in uniting the previously divided four parties of the center-right opposition. The Alliance offered alternative policies focusing on job creation that persuaded the voters.
The Center Party maintains close ties to rural Sweden. The main priorities of
the party include providing a sound economic climate for business and job
creation, climate change and environmental concerns (including nuclear power),
and health and welfare issues.
The Left Party, formerly the Communist Party, focuses on feminist issues,
employment in the public sector, and the environment. It opposes privatization,
cuts in public expenditure, Swedish participation in NATO activities, and EU
membership. Its voter base consists mainly of young people, public sector
employees, feminists, journalists, and former social democrats.
The Christian Democrat Party is conservative and value-oriented. Its voter base
is primarily among members of conservative churches and rural populations.
Christian Democrats seek government support for families and better ethical
practices to improve care for the elderly.
The Liberal Party's platform is "social responsibility without socialism," which includes a commitment to a free-market economy combined with comprehensive Swedish social welfare programs. Foreign aid, education and women's equality also are popular issues. The Liberal Party base is mainly centered in educated middle-class voters.
The Green Party is a leftist environmentalist party that attracts young people.
The Greens support a phasing-out of nuclear energy in Sweden and hope to replace
it with alternative, environmentally friendly energy sources.
The next Swedish election for parliament is scheduled to be held in 2010. In
2009 Sweden will vote for its representatives to the European Parliament.
Principal
Government Officials
Head of State--King Carl XVI Gustaf
Prime Minister (Head of Government)--Fredrik Reinfeldt
Minister for Finance--Anders Borg
Minister for the Environment--Andreas Carlgren
Minister for Justice--Beatrice Ask
Minister for Foreign Affairs--Carl Bildt
Ambassador to the United States--Jonas Hafstrom
Ambassador to the United Nations--Anders Liden
Sweden
maintains an embassy
in the United States at 1501 M St., NW Washington, DC 20005 Telephone:
202-467-2600, Internet: http://www.swedish-embassy.org/
Consulates
General are in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. There also
are consulates in 31 other U.S. cities. Contact the embassy for
locations and telephone numbers.
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Constitution: The Swedish Constitution is based on four fundamental laws: the Instrument of Government (originally dating from June 6, 1809), the Act of Succession (1810), the Freedom of the Press Act (1949), and the Riksdag Act. Following partial reforms in 1968 and 1969, a new Instrument of Government and a new Riksdag Act were adopted in 1973 and 1974, and the revised Constitution came into force on January 1, 1975, replacing the Acts of 1809, 1866, and 1949.
Branches: Executive--monarch (head of state); prime minister (head of government); Cabinet, responsible to parliament. Legislative--unicameral parliament (Riksdag--349 members). Judicial--84 district courts, 10 appeal courts and 2 superior courts.
Subdivisions: 18 counties, 290 municipalities (townships) and 2 regions.
Political parties represented in parliament: The Moderate Party (conservative), The Liberal Party, The Center Party, The Christian Democratic Party, The Social Democratic Party, The Left Party, and The Green Party.
Suffrage: Universal, 18 years of age. After 3 years of legal residence, immigrants may vote in county and municipal elections (but not in national elections).
