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40-670: The following is a summary of Sweden's Sixteen Environmental Quality Objectives (verbatim from the Agency's own website, July, 2008.): Each year, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency names a Swedish photographer "Nature Photographer of the Year". This article about government in Sweden is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about an environmental agency

80-539: A nuclear power phase-out should be completed by 2010. Following the recommendation of the 1980 referendum, two nuclear power reactors were closed by government decision in 1999 and 2005, respectively. However, in February 2009, the Swedish centre-right wing government announced that new nuclear power stations may be constructed if they replace old ones, thus ending the previous de facto phase out policy. As of 2005 ,

120-550: A crucial part of a policy deal with the SD. The highest executive authority of the state is vested in the government, which consists of a prime minister and roughly 22 ministers who head the ministries. The ministers are appointed at the sole discretion of the prime minister. The prime minister is nominated by the speaker and appointed following a vote in the Riksdag itself. The monarch plays no part in this process. The only way to oust

160-417: A government is through a motion of no confidence ( misstroendevotum ) in the Riksdag. This motion must get a majority of the total number of votes in the Riksdag (at least 175). Another example of the power the legislature has given the government is the adoption of the budget in the Riksdag. The government's proposition to budget is adopted, unless a majority of the members of the Riksdag vote against it. This

200-721: A new coalition government with the Green Party was unsuccessful because her budget proposal failed to pass. On 18 October 2022, Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party became the new prime minister of Sweden. Kristersson's Moderates formed a centre-right coalition with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals . The new government is backed by the biggest right-wing party, Sweden Democrats (SD) led by Jimmie Åkesson , with tougher immigration policies being

240-573: A plurality (and sometimes a majority) in the Swedish parliament since 1917. General elections are held every four years. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Sweden a "full democracy" its report for 2020. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Sweden was 2023 the third most electoral democratic country in the world. According to Freedom House Sweden scored 40/40 for protection of political rights in 2020. The Constitution of Sweden consists of four fundamental laws. The most important

280-471: A survey investigation by the sociologist Jenny Hansson, Swedish national parliamentarians have an average work week of 66 hours, including side responsibilities. Hansson's investigation further reports that the average Swedish national parliamentarian sleeps 6.5 hours per night. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. In each county there is a county administrative board and a county council . Each county contains several municipalities , in total 290. Stockholm

320-407: Is Crown Princess Victoria since 1980. The prime minister of Sweden is nominated by the speaker of the Riksdag and elected through negative parliamentarism. In practice, this means that the prime minister nominee is confirmed if fewer than 175 members of parliament vote 'no', regardless of the number of 'yes' votes or abstentions. Following a lengthy government formation process as a result of

360-481: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Politics of Sweden The politics of Sweden take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy . Executive power is exercised by the government, led by the Prime Minister . Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament, elected within a multi-party system . The judiciary

400-561: Is a product of a stable development of successively added democratic institutions introduced during the 19th century up to 1921, when women's suffrage was introduced. The Government of Sweden has adhered to parliamentarism — de jure since 1975, de facto since 1917. Since the Great Depression , Swedish national politics has largely been dominated by the Social Democratic Workers' Party , which has held

440-477: Is assisted by three deputy speakers who are also elected by the chamber. Traditionally, the second, third and fourth largest parties gets to name of one of their members for these offices. There is some disagreement whether the largest party or the leading party of the largest party bloc should hold the speakership (and thus also the position of First Deputy Speaker ). Unlike the Speaker (and cabinet ministers),

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480-443: Is independent, appointed by the government and employed until retirement. Sweden is formally a monarchy with a monarch holding symbolic power. Sweden has a typical Western European history of democracy, beginning with the old Viking age Ting electing kings, ending with a hereditary royal power in the 14th century, that in periods became more or less democratic depending on the general European trends. The current democratic regime

520-610: Is neither as codified as in France and other countries influenced by the Napoleonic Code , nor as dependent on judicial practice and precedents as in the United States . Government policy is carried out by the administrative authorities ( förvaltningsmyndigheter ) and government agencies of Sweden. These bodies are state-controlled and are formally headed by government-appointed directors-general but act independently from

560-605: Is the Instrument of Government of 1974 which sets out the basic principles of political life in Sweden, defining rights and freedoms. The Act of Succession is a treaty between the old Riksdag of the Estates and House of Bernadotte regulating their rights to accede to the Swedish throne. The constitution differs from most other Western countries in aspects such as having a unicameral parliament , limited municipal autonomy , and

600-584: Is the capital of Sweden. The king, the Riksdag and the government have their permanent seat in Stockholm . Up to 1968 when the Overgovernor's Office was incorporated into Stockholm County , it had a special status. As of the 1974 constitutional revision, the number of municipal divisions was reduced from several thousand to 290, while also removing previous functions of the municipal governments (such as local laws, local law enforcement, and more). After

640-457: Is the speaker and no longer the monarch who appoints and dismisses the prime minister . The current speaker is Andreas Norlén , who has held the gavel since September 2018. The speaker is the head and presiding officer of the Riksdag , and is elected by the chamber as the first order of business when the Riksdag re-convenes following a general election . As such, the speaker coordinates

680-479: Is to make it possible to govern even in minority. The main functions of the government are to: The unicameral Riksdag has 349 members , popularly elected every four years. It is in session generally from September through mid-June. Legislation may be initiated by the Cabinet or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term. The Riksdag can alter

720-431: Is voted out of office, which happened for the first time on 25 September 2018. After the negotiations, the speaker proposes the new prime ministerial candidate to the chamber, and following a positive vote, the speaker signs the commission ( Swedish : förordnande ) on behalf of the Riksdag. The prime minister appoints and dismisses their own cabinet ministers, forming the government ( Swedish : Regeringen ), without

760-464: The de facto introduction of parliamentarism in 1917, the Riksdag has properly functioned as the institution to which the prime minister and the government are held accountable. In 1971 the institution was transformed into a unicameral legislature with 350 members, reduced to 349 in 1976 to avoid parliamentary deadlocks. Since 1975, in accordance with the Instrument of Government of 1974 , it

800-497: The 1973 oil crisis , the energy politics were determined to become less dependent on the import of petroleum . Since then, electricity has been generated mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. Sweden wants to be independent of petroleum use by 2020. The Three Mile Island accident (United States) prompted the Swedish parliament in 1980 after a referendum to decide that no further nuclear power plants should be built and that

840-554: The Climate Change Performance Index until 2022, when it was displaced by Denmark. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power. Since then however, reports about radioactive leakages at a nuclear waste store in Forsmark, Sweden, have been published. This does not seem to have changed the public support of continued use of nuclear power. Throughout

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880-632: The Constitution of Sweden , but only with approval by a supermajority and confirmation after the following general elections. The Swedish Social Democratic Party has played a leading political role since 1917, after Reformists confirmed their strength and the revolutionaries left the party. After 1932, the Cabinets have been dominated by the Social Democrats. Only six general elections (1976, 1979, 1991, 2006, 2010 and 2022) have given

920-583: The Marshall Plan . In 1952, a Swedish DC-3 was shot down over the Baltic Sea while gathering reconnaissance. It was later revealed that the plane had been shot down by the Soviet Union. Another plane, a Catalina search and rescue craft, was sent out a few days later and shot down by Soviets warplanes as well. Sweden is also very active in international peace efforts, especially through

960-674: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Monetary Fund . In May 2022, Sweden formally applied to join the NATO alliance. The public opinion in the Nordic region had changed in favour of joining NATO since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine . Soon after his appointment in October 2022, new foreign minister, Tobias Billström , announced that Sweden will renounce " feminist foreign policy ", implemented by

1000-727: The United Nations , and in support to the Third World . In 1995 Sweden, together with Finland and Austria, joined the European Union which extended the number of member countries from 12 to 15. Membership and its issues are among the most important questions in Swedish politics. Apart from the European Union, Sweden is also an active member of the United Nations and several other organisations such as

1040-641: The general election held on 9 September 2018, Stefan Löfven of the Swedish Social Democratic Party was re-elected prime minister of Sweden for a second term by the new parliament on 18 January 2019, after initially being ousted by parliament. Together with the Green Party , Löfven presided over a minority government which relied on confidence and supply from the Centre Party and Liberals . The deputy prime minister

1080-477: The 20th century, Swedish foreign policy was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime, neutrality in wartime. This principle has often been criticised in Sweden, allegedly being a facade, claiming that the Swedish government had an advanced collaboration with western countries within NATO . During Cold War era politics, Sweden was not under the Warsaw Pact and received only minimal aid from

1120-433: The Riksdag during their time in office. While the speaker is still one of the elected representatives of the Riksdag, they are expected to remain unbiased and objective with regards to the political issues that are debated. In terms of official protocol, the position of speaker is the second highest-ranked public position in Sweden. Only the monarch outranks the speaker since the monarch is the head of state . Additionally,

1160-435: The centre-right bloc enough seats in the Riksdag to form a government. This is considered one reason for the Swedish post-war welfare state , with a government expenditure of slightly more than 50% of the gross domestic product . A general election is held alongside local and regional elections every four years. The last election was held on 11 September 2022. Swedish law, drawing on Germanic, Roman, and Anglo-American law,

1200-565: The deputy Speakers are not replaced by an alternate and remain members of the Riksdag with voting rights. In case all adult members of the Swedish royal family who are in the line of succession to the throne , as prescribed in the Act of Succession , are out of the country, the speaker assumes the role of Regent ad interim ( Swedish : Riksföreståndare ). This would also be the case if they were all to decease. Below are listed all speakers who have acted as Regent ad interim: The speaker chairs

1240-437: The executive and legislative branches of government. Ministerial governance ( ministerstyre ) is illegal; in accordance with 2 §, chapter 12 of the Instrument of Government , no member of the Riksdag or government may interfere in the day-to-day operation of an agency, nor in the outcome of individual cases. Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" ( folkrörelser ),

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1280-409: The involvement of the speaker. In case of either a voluntary resignation or a vote of no confidence , the letter of resignation of a prime minister is handed to the speaker. In most other parliamentary systems , including other constitutional monarchies , these duties are instead handled by the head of state . Relieving the Swedish monarch of political powers, although not the key objective from

1320-452: The lack of a supreme court with power to overturn legislature. Instead of checks and balances the executive power is entrusted to the politicians. The four fundamental laws are: A hereditary monarch , currently King Carl XVI Gustaf of the House of Bernadotte serves as head of state since 1973. His authority is formal, symbolic, and representational. Heiress apparent to the throne

1360-550: The most notable being trade unions , the women's movement , the temperance movement , and – more recently – sports movement. Election turnout in Sweden has always been high in international comparisons, although it has declined in recent decades, and is around 87%, (87.18% in the general election of 2018 ). Some Swedish political figures that have become known worldwide include Joe Hill , Carl Skoglund , Raoul Wallenberg , Folke Bernadotte , Dag Hammarskjöld , Olof Palme , Carl Bildt , Hans Blix , and Anna Lindh . According to

1400-482: The outset, nevertheless became an important part of constitutional reform in the 1970s. The speaker also attends the special change-of-government council held at the Stockholm Palace following the appointment of a new prime minister. During these meetings the speaker informs the monarch on the procedure of forming the incoming government. The monarch then announces the change of government. The speaker

1440-519: The previous left-wing government. Sweden joined NATO on 7 March 2024. Speaker of the Riksdag The speaker of the Riksdag ( Swedish : Riksdagens talman ) is the presiding officer of the national unicameral legislature in Sweden . The Riksdag underwent profound changes in 1867, when the medieval Riksdag of the Estates was abolished. The new form of the Riksdag included two elected chambers , each with its own speaker. Since

1480-407: The speaker nominally outranks the prime minister of Sweden , even though (since the 1974–75 reforms) that person is the country's de jure and de facto chief executive. One of the more important aspects of the work of the speaker is to head negotiations concerning the forming of a new government in case there is a shift of power after an election. The speaker can then dismiss a prime minister who

1520-404: The use of renewables amounted to 26% of the energy supply in Sweden, most important being hydropower and biomass . In 2003, electricity from hydropower accounted for 53 TWh and 40% of the country's production of electricity with nuclear power delivering 65 TWh (49%). At the same time, the use of biofuels , peat etc. produced 13 TWh of electricity. Sweden was the highest ranked country in

1560-460: The work that takes place in the Riksdag. The office is mandated in the Swedish constitution and the duties of the office are set out in the Instrument of Government (1974) and the Riksdag Act. The speaker themselves does not take part in debates, nor do they participate in the parliamentary committees. Consequently, they have no vote, and a substitute is appointed to fill his or her seat in

1600-475: Was Isabella Lövin of the Green Party. In August 2021, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced his resignation and Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson was elected as the new head of Sweden's ruling Social Democrats in November 2021. On 30 November 2021, Magdalena Andersson became Sweden's first female prime minister. She formed a minority government made up of only her Social Democrats. Her plan for forming

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