The Swedish political system
Sweden or "Kungariket Sverige" is a constitutionnal monarchy with a parlementary system.
Thus, the Swedish institutions are represented by the King Carl XVI Gustav whose functions stay honorary and led by a government called Regering and by a parliament "Riskdag".
The right to vote belongs to every swedes who are more than 18 years old and have their polling card.
The Monarchy
Since 1975, the Swedish King has lost his political powers. He represents the Nation and is considered like a head od State abroad. Thus, he receives the other heads of State and makes official visits abroad.
However, the King has kept some powers as
- he opens the annual session of the parliament,
- he leads the special cabinet,
- he is the head of the consultative assembly for the foreign affairs,
- he has the highest rank in the Swedish Army,
- he accepts or not the nomination of foreign ambassadors in Sweden and signs
those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad.
The succession Law adopted in 1975 underlines that the first child born, ...., will be the Heir of the throne.
That is why Victoria will reign on Sweden. The will of the parliamant was to put on an equal terms with men and women.
The King Carl XVI Gustav acceded to the
throne in 1973 after the death of his grandfather Gustav VI Adolf.
He got married with Silvia Sommerlath on 19th of June 1976. They have three
children: Victoria, born in 1977, the Heir of the throne, Carl Philip and
Madeleine.
The Governement
The Swedish government is formed by ministers and a Prime
minister called Statminister.
The Prime Minister is named by the head of Parliament and chooses the ministers of
his governement.
He decides on the Swedish politics about Economy, Foreign affairs, social
welfare,
environnement...
The present government is formed by 22 ministers and is led
by Göran Persson, Prime minister.
The different ministers represent the political parties in power.
The Municipalities
There are 288 municipalities which are endowed with a
borough council elected by citizens.
They are commissionned to levy taxes, to help the ederly persons, to maintain
schools and to verify the good working of firms belonging to the civil services.
The Departments
There are 23 departments which are endowed with a council elected by citizens.
They are commissionned to levy taxes and to maintain the healty services.
The Ombudsman
This service examines the complaints concerning the abuse of civil services' authorities.
The Parliament
The Parliament is formed by one chamber of deputies elected since 1971 by the universal
suffrage.
The number of deputies is 349 elected for 4 years by the citizens.
The repartition of the seat in the Parliament between the political parties is made in
proportion to the national votes.
For being represented in the Parliament, a party has to collect at least 4% of the
national suffrages.
The Parliament has the power to revoke the governement and to overthrow a minister or all the government with a motion of no confidence.
The women place in the Parliament is much significant because 41% of the deputies are women. That is a exceptionnal percentage.
The Political parties
Six political parties have a seat in the Swedish Parliament.
Since the end of the second war, two of us clash constantly: the socialist block and the
non-socialist one.
The socialist block gathers the Social-Democrate Party and the Left Party.
The non-socialist block assembles the Moderate Party, the Liberal Party and the Center
Right Party.
The Green Party stands apart from the other parties.
Sweden has known a political stability at the beginning to the 70s. Then, since this
period, many alternations have occured.
Actually, from 1932 to 1976, the social-democrates led in continu Sweden with two
influential Prime ministers, Tage Erlander and Olof Palme.
In 1976, the non-socialist block won the elections.
From 1982 to 1991, the social-democrates, led by Olof Palme then by Ingvar Carlsson, got
the swedish power back. After the murder of Palme, Ingvar Carlsson became Prime minister.
In 1991, After a serious economical difficulties, he dismissed. The moderate Carl Bildt
became Prime minister ans stayed untill 1994, when the socialists retook the power.
Since 1996, Göran Persson has succeded to Ingvar Carlsson as Prime minister.