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Prime Minister of Sweden

Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden:Sweden lesser arms

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The Prime Minister or statsminister (minister of state) is the head of Government in Sweden. Before 1876, when the office of Prime Minister was instituted, Sweden did not have a formal head of Government. The architect behind the new Riksdag of 1866, Louis De Geer became the first Prime Minister, but ironically it had been the absence of his informal leadership in the Government that had brought about the reform.


Contents

Under the Constitution of 1809

Since the Constitution of 1809 there had actually been the two titles of Minister of State for Justice or justitiestatsminister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs or utrikesstatsminister, but their roles had merely been that of a head for respective Ministry. At the introduction of the new office in 1876, the Minister of State for Justice became Minister of State (Prime Minister), while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs was nominally demoted to Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister for Foreign Affairs did however continue to be styled as Excellency, an honour shared only with the Prime Minister.

Constitutional Reform

Prime Minister of Sweden:Louis De Geer (1818-1896), the first Prime Minister of Sweden.
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Louis De Geer (1818-1896), the first Prime Minister of Sweden.

Until 1973 the Government authority had been exercised through the Privy Council when constitutional reform provided a new Instrument of Government which formally established the parliamentary principles and created a Cabinet Government.

Whenever a Prime Minister resigns, dies, or is forced from office by the Riksdag, the Speaker of the Riksdag asks him (or his deputy) to keep the government as a caretaker government until a successor has been elected. The speaker then holds consultations with the party leaders and appoints a Prime Minister-designate, who is submitted for approval to the Riksdag. If the Prime Minister-designate is approved he or she chooses which and how many members (ministers) are to be included in his or her government.[1]

With the exception of the Prime Minister, ministers of the government do not need the approval of the Riksdag but can be forced to resign by a vote of no confidence. If the Prime Minister is forced by a vote of no confidence to resign the entire cabinet falls and the process of electing a Prime minister starts over. The Prime minister can dissolve the parliament even after receiving a vote of no confidence except the first three months after an election.

The Sager House

Prime Minister of Sweden:The Sager House in Stockholm.
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The Sager House in Stockholm.

In 1991 the Sager House was acquired, and since 1995 it has served as residence for the Prime Minister. The Sager House is located adjacent to Rosenbad, the Government chancellery, straight across the water from Helgeandsholmen with the Riksdag building, and beyond that lies the Royal Palace.

Officeholders

Prime Ministers for Justice

Prime Ministers for Foreign Affairs

Prime Ministers

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  1. Prime Ministers of Sweden

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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyyPeriod = from:1876 till:01/11/2006 # The 'till' value should be the day this timeline was last edited, but at the moment being (2006-10-05) the topmost bar is too small to be seen at all unless I boost up the value a bit.TimeAxis = orientation:verticalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:1876ScaleMinor = unit:month increment:6 start:01/01/1876

Define $dx = 20Define $dy = -3

Colors=

id:liberal value:skyblue legend:Liberalid:lantmanna value:orange legend:Lantmanna_Partyid:conserv value:blue legend:Right-wing/Conservativeid:socdem value:red legend:Social_Democraticid:centre value:green legend:Centre_Partyid:indep value:gray(0.8) legend:Independent

PlotData=

 bar:PrimeMinisters color:blue width:25 mark:(line,white) align:left fontsize:S from:20/03/1876 till:19/04/1880 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Louis De Geer, Sr. from:19/04/1880 till:13/06/1883 shift:($dx,$dy) color:lantmanna  text:Arvid Posse from:13/06/1883 till:16/05/1884 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Carl Johan Thyselius from:16/05/1884 till:06/02/1888 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Robert Themptander from:06/02/1888 till:12/10/1889 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Gillis Bildt from:12/10/1889 till:10/07/1891 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Gustaf Åkerhielm from:10/07/1891 till:12/09/1900 shift:($dx,$dy) color:lantmanna  text:Erik Gustaf Boström from:12/09/1900 till:05/07/1902 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv   text:Fredrik von Otter from:05/07/1902 till:13/04/1905 shift:($dx,$dy) color:lantmanna  text:Erik Gustaf Boström from:13/04/1905 till:02/08/1905 shift:($dx,-8)  color:indep   fontsize: XS text:Johan Ramstedt from:02/08/1905 till:07/11/1905 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv fontsize: XS text:Christian Lundeberg from:07/11/1905 till:29/05/1906 shift:($dx,0)   color:liberal fontsize: XS text:Karl Staaff from:29/05/1906 till:07/10/1911 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Arvid Lindman from:07/10/1911 till:17/02/1914 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Karl Staaff from:17/02/1914 till:30/03/1917 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Hjalmar Hammarskjöld from:30/03/1917 till:19/10/1917 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Carl Swartz from:19/10/1917 till:10/03/1920 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Nils Edén from:10/03/1920 till:27/10/1920 shift:($dx,-5)  color:socdem  fontsize: XS text:Hjalmar Branting  from:27/10/1920 till:23/02/1921 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal fontsize: XS text:Louis De Geer, Jr.  from:23/02/1921 till:13/10/1921 shift:($dx,-1)  color:conserv   fontsize: XS text:Oscar von Sydow  from:13/10/1921 till:19/04/1923 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Hjalmar Branting from:19/04/1923 till:18/10/1924 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Ernst Trygger from:18/10/1924 till:24/01/1925 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Hjalmar Branting from:24/01/1925 till:07/06/1926 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Rickard Sandler from:07/06/1926 till:02/10/1928 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Carl Gustaf Ekman from:02/10/1928 till:07/06/1930 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Arvid Lindman from:07/06/1930 till:06/08/1932 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Carl Gustaf Ekman from:06/08/1932 till:24/09/1932 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Felix Hamrin from:24/09/1932 till:19/06/1936 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Per Albin Hansson from:19/06/1936 till:28/09/1936 shift:($dx,$dy) color:centre  text:Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp from:28/09/1936 till:06/10/1946 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Per Albin Hansson from:11/10/1946 till:14/10/1969 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Tage Erlander from:14/10/1969 till:08/10/1976 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Olof Palme from:08/10/1976 till:18/10/1978 shift:($dx,$dy) color:centre  text:Thorbjörn Fälldin from:18/10/1978 till:12/10/1979 shift:($dx,$dy) color:liberal text:Ola Ullsten from:12/10/1979 till:08/10/1982 shift:($dx,$dy) color:centre  text:Thorbjörn Fälldin from:08/10/1982 till:28/02/1986 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Olof Palme from:01/03/1986 till:04/10/1991 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Ingvar Carlsson from:04/10/1991 till:07/10/1994 shift:($dx,$dy) color:conserv text:Carl Bildt from:07/10/1994 till:22/03/1996 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Ingvar Carlsson from:22/03/1996 till:05/10/2006 shift:($dx,$dy) color:socdem  text:Göran Persson from:06/10/2006 till:end        shift:($dx,-8)  color:conserv text:Fredrik Reinfeldt # replace -8 with $dy when enough time has passed for it to be a bit larger so that the label fits inside the drawing area

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NameTerm of officeParty
  Louis De Geer, Sr. 20 March 1876 – 19 April 1880 Independent liberal
  Arvid Posse 19 April 1880 – 13 June 1883 Lantmanna Party
  Carl Johan Thyselius 13 June 1883 – 16 May 1884 Independent conservative
  Robert Themptander 16 May 1884 – 6 February 1888 Independent liberal
  Gillis Bildt 6 February 1888 – 12 October 1889 Independent conservative
  Gustaf Åkerhielm 12 October 1889 – 10 July 1891 Protectionist Majority Party
  Erik Gustaf Boström 10 July 1891 – 12 September 1900 Lantmanna Party
  Fredrik von Otter 12 September 1900 – 5 July 1902 Independent conservative
  Erik Gustaf Boström 5 July 1902 – 13 April 1905 Lantmanna Party
  Johan Ramstedt 13 April 1905 – 2 August 1905 Independent
  Christian Lundeberg 2 August 1905 – 7 November 1905 Protectionist Majority Party
  Karl Staaff 7 November 1905 – 29 May 1906 Liberal Coalition Party
  Arvid Lindman 29 May 1906 – 7 October 1911 General Electoral Union
  Karl Staaff 7 October 1911 – 17 February 1914 Liberal Coalition Party
  Hjalmar Hammarskjöld 17 February 1914 – 30 March 1917 Independent conservative
  Carl Swartz 30 March 1917 – 19 October 1917 National Party
  Nils Edén 19 October 1917 – 10 March 1920 Liberal Coalition Party
  Hjalmar Branting 10 March 1920 – 27 October 1920 Social Democrats
  Louis De Geer, Jr. 27 October 1920 – 23 February 1921 Independent liberal
  Oscar von Sydow 23 February 1921 – 13 October 1921 Independent conservative
  Hjalmar Branting 13 October 1921 – 19 April 1923 Social Democrats
  Ernst Trygger 19 April 1923 – 18 October 1924 National Party
  Hjalmar Branting 18 October 1924 – 24 January 1925 Social Democrats
  Rickard Sandler 24 January 1925 – 7 June 1926 Social Democrats
  Carl Gustaf Ekman 7 June 1926 – 2 October 1928 Freeminded People's Party
  Arvid Lindman 2 October 1928 – 7 June 1930 General Electoral Union
  Carl Gustaf Ekman 7 June 1930 – 6 August 1932 Freeminded People's Party
  Felix Hamrin 6 August 1932 – 24 September 1932 Freeminded People's Party
  Per Albin Hansson 24 September 1932 – 19 June 1936 Social Democrats
  Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 19 June 1936 – 28 September 1936 Farmers' Union
  Per Albin Hansson 28 September 1936 – 6 October 1946 † Social Democrats
  Tage Erlander 11 October 1946 – 14 October 1969 Social Democrats
  Olof Palme 14 October 1969 – 8 October 1976 Social Democrats
  Thorbjörn Fälldin 8 October 1976 – 18 October 1978 Centre Party
  Ola Ullsten 18 October 1978 – 12 October 1979 People's Party
  Thorbjörn Fälldin 12 October 1979 – 8 October 1982 Centre Party
  Olof Palme 8 October 1982 – 28 February 1986 † Social Democrats
  Ingvar Carlsson 1 March 1986 – 4 October 1991 Social Democrats
  Carl Bildt 4 October 1991 – 7 October 1994 Moderate Party
  Ingvar Carlsson 7 October 1994 – 22 March 1996 Social Democrats
  Göran Persson 22 March 1996 – 6 October 2006 Social Democrats
  Fredrik Reinfeldt 6 October 2006 – present Moderate Party

Statistics

Longest sitting Prime Ministers

Name Duration Years
1 Tage Erlander 23 years 1946-69
2 Louis De Geer, Sr. 17 years 1858-70, 1875-80
3 Per Albin Hansson 14 years 1932-36, 1936-46
4 Erik Gustaf Boström 12 years 1891-1900, 1902-05
5 Göran Persson 10 years 1996-2006
6 Olof Palme 10 years 1969-76, 1982-86
7 Arvid Lindman 7 years 1906-11, 1928-30
8 Ingvar Carlsson 7 years 1986-91, 1994-96
9 Thorbjörn Fälldin 5 years 1976-78, 1979-82
10 Carl Gustaf Ekman 5 years 1926-28, 1930-32

Shortest sitting Prime Ministers

Name Duration Year
1 Felix Hamrin 50 days 1932
2 Christian Lundeberg 95 days 1905
3 Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 99 days 1936
4 Johan Ramstedt 108 days 1905
5 Louis De Geer, Jr. 121 days 1920

Youngest sitting Prime Ministers

Name Age Date
1 Robert Themptander 40 years, 2 months, 2 days May 16, 1884
2 Rickard Sandler 40 years, 11 months, 26 days January 24, 1925
3 Fredrik Reinfeldt 41 years, 2 months, 2 days October 6, 2006
4 Carl Bildt 42 years, 2 months, 19 days October 4, 1991
5 Olof Palme 42 years, 8 months, 14 days October 14, 1969

Oldest sitting Prime Ministers

Name Age Date
1 Carl Johan Thyselius 72 years, 11 months, 8 days May 16, 1884
2 Fredrik von Otter 69 years, 2 months, 24 days July 5, 1902
3 Gillis Bildt 68 years, 11 months, 26 days October 12, 1889
4 Tage Erlander 68 years, 4 months, 1 day October 14, 1969
5 Arvid Lindman 67 years, 8 months, 19 days June 7, 1930

Notes

  1. ^ "How a Government is formed", Government Offices of Sweden web site

See also


Prime Ministers of Sweden

<td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 1px" rowspan="2"> Prime Minister of Sweden:Flag of Sweden </td>

De Geer, Sr. • Posse • Thyselius • Themptander • G. Bildt • Åkerhielm • Boström • von Otter • Boström • Ramstedt • Lundeberg • Staaff • Lindman • Staaff • Hammarskjöld • Swartz • Edén • Branting • De Geer, Jr. • von Sydow • Branting • Trygger • Branting • Sandler • Ekman • Lindman • Ekman • Hamrin • Hansson • Pehrsson-Bramstorp • Hansson • Erlander • Palme • Fälldin • Ullsten • Fälldin • Palme • Carlsson • C. Bildt • Carlsson • Persson • Reinfeldt

Categories


Lists of office-holders | Prime Ministers of Sweden | Sweden-related lists

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