Prime Minister of Sweden

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

The Prime Minister (Swedish: statsminister, literally "Minister of the 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 parliament 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. The current Prime Minister of Sweden is Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the Moderate Party.

Contents

[edit] History

Before 1876, when the office of Prime Minister was instituted, Sweden did not have a formal head of government. Historically, the most senior member of the Royal Privy Council (during the absolute rule this was the Lord High Chancellor) had some similarities to the modern office of a head of government. This was most evident during the so called Age of Liberty from 1718 to 1772, when powers of the monarch were greatly reduced and the President of the Privy Council became the most powerful political figure in Sweden.

At the adoption of the new constitution of 1809, the two offices of Prime Minister for Justice (justitiestatsminister) and Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (utrikesstatsminister) were created. However, their roles were merely that of a head of respective ministry. When the office proper of Prime Minister was created in 1876, the Prime Minister for Justice was demoted to Minister for Justice (justitieminister), while the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs was demoted to Minister for Foreign Affairs (utrikesminister). Unlike the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Foreign Affairs did continue to be styled as "Excellency", an honour shared only with the Prime Minister.

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 system and created a cabinet government.

[edit] The office

See also: Politics of Sweden

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 Swedish constitution requires that the Prime Minister appoints one of the ministers in the cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister, in case the Prime Minister for some reason is prevented from performing his or her duties. However, if a Deputy Prime Minister is absent or hasn't been appointed, the minister in the cabinet who has served the longest time – and if there are several with equal experience, the one who is oldest – takes over as acting head of government (see Swedish governmental line of succession for the present governmental line of succession).

[edit] Official residences

The government offices, including the Prime Minister's office, is located at Rosenbad in central Stockholm, straight across the water from Helgeandsholmen with the parliament building.

In 1991 the Sager House (or the "Sager Palace" as it was previously called) was acquired, and since 1995 it has served as the private residence of the Prime Minister. The Sager House is located adjacent to Rosenbad and the parliament building.

Harpsund, a manor house in Flen Municipality, Södermanland County, has served as a country residence for the Prime Minister since 1953. The manor is also frequently used for governmental conferences and informal summits between the government, industry and organizations in Sweden.

[edit] Salary

The salaries of the cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, is decided by and is the subject of annual review by the Statsrådsarvodesnämnden ("Cabinet Ministers' Salary Conmittee") of the Swedish parliament. Since 1 July 2007, the Prime Minister's monthly salary is SEK126,000 (~US$20,000) or SEK1,512,000 (~US$236,000) per year.[2] This is comparable to the £127,334 (~US$250,000) annual salary of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom or the US$400,000 annual salary of the President of the United States.

[edit] List of officeholders

Swedish Cabinet Holding Parties - Color key:

Prime Minister Took office Left office Party Cabinet(s)
De Geer, Louis 1Louis De Geer père 1876-03-2020 March 1876 1880-04-1919 April 1880 0Independent De Geer (1818-1896)
Posse, ArvidArvid Posse 1880-04-1919 April 1880 1883-06-1613 June 1883 Lantmanna Party Posse
Thyselius, Carl JohanCarl Johan Thyselius 1883-06-1313 June 1883 1884-05-1616 May 1884 0Independent Thyselius
Themptander, RobertRobert Themptander 1884-05-1616 May 1884 1888-02-066 February 1888 0Independent Themptander
Bildt, GillisGillis Bildt 1888-02-066 February 1888 1889-10-1212 October 1889 0Independent G. Bildt
Åkerhielm, GustafGustaf Åkerhielm 1889-10-1212 October 1889 1891-07-1010 July 1891 Protectionist Majority Party Åkerhielm
Boström, Erik GustafErik Gustaf Boström 1891-07-1010 July 1891 1900-09-1212 September 1900 Lantmanna Party Boström I
Otter, Fredrik vonFredrik von Otter 1900-09-1212 September 1900 1902-07-055 July 1902 0Independent von Otter
Boström, Erik GustafErik Gustaf Boström (2nd term) 1902-07-055 July 1902 1905-04-1313 April 1905 Lantmanna Party Boström II
Ramstedt, JohanJohan Ramstedt 1905-04-1313 April 1905 1905-08-022 August 1905 0Independent Ramstedt
Lundeberg, ChristianChristian Lundeberg 1905-08-022 August 1905 1905-11-077 November 1905 Protectionist Majority Party Lundeberg
Staaff, KarlKarl Staaff 1905-11-077 November 1905 1906-05-2929 May 1906 Liberal Coalition Party Staaff I
Lindman, ArvidArvid Lindman 1906-05-2929 May 1906 1911-10-077 October 1911 Moderate Party Lindman I
Staaff, KarlKarl Staaff (2nd term) 1911-10-077 October 1911 1914-02-1717 February 1914 Liberal Coalition Party Staaff II
Hammarskjöld, HjalmarHjalmar Hammarskjöld 1914-02-1717 February 1914 1917-03-3030 March 1917 0Independent Hammarskjöld
Swartz, CarlCarl Swartz 1917-03-3030 March 1917 1917-10-1919 October 1917 National Party Swartz
Edén, NilsNils Edén 1917-10-1919 October 1917 1920-03-1010 March 1920 Liberal Coalition Party Edén
Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting 1920-03-1010 March 1920 1920-10-2727 October 1920 Social Democratic Party Branting I
De Geer, Louis 2Louis De Geer fils 1920-10-2727 October 1920 1921-02-2323 February 1921 0Independent De Geer (1854-1935)
Sydow, Oscar vonOscar von Sydow 1921-02-2323 February 1921 1921-10-1313 October 1921 0Independent von Sydow
Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting (2nd term) 1921-10-1313 October 1921 1923-04-1919 April 1923 Social Democratic Party Branting II
Trygger, ErnstErnst Trygger 1923-04-1919 April 1923 1924-10-1818 October 1924 National Party Trygger
Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting (3rd term) 1924-10-1818 October 1924 1925-01-2424 January 1925 Social Democratic Party Branting III
Sandler, RickardRickard Sandler 1925-01-2424 January 1925 1926-06-077 June 1926 Social Democratic Party Sandler
Ekman, Carl GustafCarl Gustaf Ekman 1926-06-077 June 1926 1928-10-022 October 1928 Freeminded People's Party Ekman I
Lindman, ArvidArvid Lindman (2nd term) 1928-10-022 October 1928 1930-06-077 June 1930 Moderate Party Lindman II
Ekman, Carl GustafCarl Gustaf Ekman (2nd term) 1930-06-077 June 1930 1932-08-066 August 1932 Freeminded People's Party Ekman II
Hamrin, FelixFelix Hamrin 1932-08-066 August 1932 1932-09-2424 September 1932 Freeminded People's Party Hamrin
Hansson, Per AlbinPer Albin Hansson 1932-09-2424 September 1932 1936-06-1919 June 1936 Social Democratic Party Hansson I
Pehrsson-Bramstorp, AxelAxel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 1936-06-1919 June 1936 1936-09-2828 September 1936 Centre Party Pehrsson-Bramstorp
Hansson, Per AlbinPer Albin Hansson (2nd term) 1936-09-2828 September 1936 1946-10-066 October 1946[3] Social Democratic Party Hansson II,
Hansson III,
Hansson IV
Undén, ÖstenÖsten Undén (acting) 1946-10-066 October 1946 1946-10-1111 October 1946 Social Democratic Party Undén
Erlander, TageTage Erlander 1946-10-1111 October 1946 1969-10-1414 October 1969 Social Democratic Party Erlander I,
Erlander II,
Erlander III
Palme, OlofOlof Palme 1969-10-1414 October 1969 1976-10-088 October 1976 Social Democratic Party Palme I
Fälldin, ThorbjörnThorbjörn Fälldin 1976-10-088 October 1976 1978-10-1818 October 1978 Centre Party Fälldin I
Ullsten, OlaOla Ullsten 1978-10-1818 October 1978 1979-10-1212 October 1979 Liberal People's Party Ullsten
Fälldin, ThorbjörnThorbjörn Fälldin (2nd term) 1979-10-1212 October 1979 1982-10-088 October 1982 Centre Party Fälldin II,
Fälldin III
Palme, OlofOlof Palme (2nd term) 1982-10-088 October 1982 1986-03-011 March 1986[4] Social Democratic Party Palme II
Carlsson, IngvarIngvar Carlsson 1986-03-011 March 1986[5] 1991-10-044 October 1991 Social Democratic Party Carlsson I,
Carlsson II
Bildt, CarlCarl Bildt 1991-10-044 October 1991 1994-10-077 October 1994 Moderate Party C. Bildt
Carlsson, IngvarIngvar Carlsson (2nd term) 1994-10-077 October 1994 1996-03-2222 March 1996 Social Democratic Party Carlsson III
Persson, GöranGöran Persson 1996-03-2222 March 1996 2006-10-066 October 2006 Social Democratic Party Persson
Reinfeldt, FredrikFredrik Reinfeldt 2006-10-066 October 2006 Incumbent Moderate Party Reinfeldt

[edit] Statistics

# Prime Minister Date of birth Age at ascension
(first term)		 Time in office
(total)		 Age at retirement
(last term)		 Date of death Age at death
1 De Geer, Louis 1Louis De Geer, Sr. 1818071818 July 1818(1818-07-18) 57 24657 years, 246 days 04 0304 years, 30 days 61 27661 years, 276 days 1896092424 September 1896 78 06878 years, 68 days
2 Posse, ArvidArvid Posse 1820021515 February 1820(1820-02-15) 60 06460 years, 64 days 03 0583 years, 58 days 63 12163 years, 121 days 1901042424 April 1901 81 06881 years, 68 days
3 Thyselius, Carl JohanCarl Johan Thyselius 181106088 June 1811(1811-06-08) 72 00572 years, 5 days 00 3370 years, 337 days 72 34272 years, 342 days 1891011111 January 1891 79 21779 years, 217 days
4 Themptander, RobertRobert Themptander 1844021414 February 1844(1844-02-14) 40 09240 years, 92 days 03 2663 years, 266 days 43 35743 years, 357 days 1897013030 January 1897 52 35152 years, 351 days
5 Bildt, GillisGillis Bildt 1820101616 October 1820(1820-10-16) 67 11367 years, 113 days 01 2481 year, 248 days 68 36168 years, 361 days 1894102222 October 1894 74 00674 years, 6 days
6 Åkerhielm, GustafGustaf Åkerhielm 1833072424 July 1833(1833-07-24) 56 08056 years, 80 days 01 2711 year, 271 days 57 35157 years, 351 days 190004022 April 1900 66 25266 years, 252 days
7 Boström, Erik GustafErik Gustaf Boström 1842021111 February 1842(1842-02-11) 49 14949 years, 149 days 11 34611 years, 346 days 63 06163 years, 61 days 1907022121 February 1907 65 01065 years, 10 days
8 Otter, Fredrik vonFredrik von Otter 1833041111 April 1833(1833-04-11) 67 15467 years, 154 days 01 2961 year, 296 days 69 08569 years, 85 days 191003099 March 1910 76 33276 years, 332 days
9 Ramstedt, JohanJohan Ramstedt 185211077 November 1852(1852-11-07) 52 15752 years, 157 days 00 1110 years, 111 days 52 26852 years, 268 days 1935031515 March 1935 82 12882 years, 128 days
10 Lundeberg, ChristianChristian Lundeberg 1842071414 July 1842(1842-07-14) 63 01963 years, 19 days 00 0970 years, 97 days 63 11663 years, 116 days 1911111010 November 1911 69 11969 years, 119 days
11 Staaff, KarlKarl Staaff 1860012121 January 1860(1860-01-21) 45 29045 years, 290 days 02 3362 years, 336 days 54 02754 years, 27 days 191510044 October 1915 55 25655 years, 256 days
12 Lindman, ArvidArvid Lindman 1862091919 September 1862(1862-09-19) 43 25243 years, 252 days 07 0147 years, 14 days 49 01849 years, 18 days 193612099 December 1936 74 08174 years, 81 days
13 Hammarskjöld, HjalmarHjalmar Hammarskjöld 186202044 February 1862(1862-02-04) 52 01352 years, 13 days 03 0413 years, 41 days 55 05455 years, 54 days 1953101212 October 1953 91 25091 years, 250 days
14 Swartz, CarlCarl Swartz 185806055 June 1858(1858-06-05) 58 29858 years, 298 days 00 2030 years, 203 days 59 13659 years, 136 days 192611066 November 1926 68 15468 years, 154 days
15 Edén, NilsNils Edén 1871082525 August 1871(1871-08-25) 46 05546 years, 55 days 02 1432 years, 143 days 48 19848 years, 198 days 1945061616 June 1945 73 29573 years, 295 days
16 Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting 1860112323 November 1860(1860-11-23) 59 10859 years, 108 days 02 1522 years, 152 days 64 06264 years, 62 days 1925022424 February 1925 64 09364 years, 93 days
17 De Geer, Louis 2Louis De Geer, Jr. 1854112727 November 1854(1854-11-27) 65 33565 years, 335 days 00 1190 years, 119 days 66 08866 years, 88 days 1935022525 February 1935 80 09080 years, 90 days
18 Sydow, Oscar vonOscar von Sydow 1873071212 July 1873(1873-07-12) 47 22647 years, 226 days 00 2320 years, 232 days 48 09348 years, 93 days 1936081919 August 1936 63 03863 years, 38 days
19 Trygger, ErnstErnst Trygger 1857102727 October 1857(1857-10-27) 65 17465 years, 174 days 01 1821 year, 182 days 66 35766 years, 357 days 1943092323 September 1943 85 33185 years, 331 days
20 Sandler, RickardRickard Sandler 1884012929 January 1884(1884-01-29) 40 36140 years, 361 days 01 1341 year, 134 days 42 12942 years, 129 days 1964111212 November 1964 80 28880 years, 288 days
21 Ekman, Carl GustafCarl Gustaf Ekman 187210066 October 1872(1872-10-06) 53 24453 years, 244 days 04 1774 years, 177 days 59 30559 years, 305 days 1945061515 June 1945 72 25272 years, 252 days
22 Hamrin, FelixFelix Hamrin 1875011414 January 1875(1875-01-14) 57 20557 years, 205 days 00 0490 years, 49 days 57 25457 years, 254 days 1937112727 November 1937 62 31762 years, 317 days
23 Hansson, Per AlbinPer Albin Hansson 1885102828 October 1885(1885-10-28) 46 33246 years, 332 days 12 27712 years, 277 days 60 34360 years, 343 days 194610066 October 1946 60 34360 years, 343 days
23.5 Undén, ÖstenÖsten Undén (acting) 1886082525 August 1886(1886-08-25) 60 04260 years, 42 days 00 0050 years, 5 days 60 04760 years, 47 days 1974011414 January 1974 87 14287 years, 142 days
24 Pehrsson-Bramstorp, AxelAxel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 1883081919 August 1883(1883-08-19) 52 30552 years, 305 days 00 1010 years, 101 days 53 04053 years, 40 days 1954021919 February 1954 70 18470 years, 184 days
25 Erlander, TageTage Erlander 1901061313 June 1901(1901-06-13) 45 12045 years, 120 days 23 00323 years, 3 days 68 12368 years, 123 days 1985062121 June 1985 84 00884 years, 8 days
26 Palme, OlofOlof Palme 1927013030 January 1927(1927-01-30) 42 25742 years, 257 days 10 13910 years, 139 days 59 03059 years, 30 days 198603011 March 1986 59 03059 years, 30 days
27 Fälldin, ThorbjörnThorbjörn Fälldin 1926042424 April 1926(1926-04-24) 50 16750 years, 167 days 05 0105 years, 10 days 56 16756 years, 167 days Living Living
28 Ullsten, OlaOla Ullsten 1931062323 June 1931(1931-06-23) 47 11747 years, 117 days 00 3590 years, 359 days 48 11148 years, 111 days Living Living
29 Carlsson, IngvarIngvar Carlsson 193411099 November 1934(1934-11-09) 51 11251 years, 112 days 07 0197 years, 19 days 61 13461 years, 134 days Living Living
30 Bildt, CarlCarl Bildt 194907055 July 1949(1949-07-05) 42 09142 years, 91 days 03 0033 years, 3 days 45 09445 years, 94 days Living Living
31 Persson, GöranGöran Persson 1949012020 January 1949(1949-01-20) 47 06247 years, 62 days 10 19810 years, 198 days 57 25957 years, 259 days Living Living
32 Reinfeldt, FredrikFredrik Reinfeldt 196508044 August 1965(1965-08-04) 41 06341 years, 63 days 01 138 &0000000000000001.0000001 year, &0000000000000250.000000250 days (ongoing) Incumbent Living Living

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ How a Government is formed (English). Government Offices of Sweden (2006-08-02). Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  2. ^ Om Regeringskansliet (Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden (2007-10-30). Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  3. ^ Died in office of natural causes.
  4. ^ Assassinated.
  5. ^ Acting Prime Minister from 1 March to 12 March 1986.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Prime Ministers of Sweden
De Geer  (1818-1896) • Posse • Thyselius • Themptander • G. Bildt • Åkerhielm • Boström • von Otter • Boström • Ramstedt • Lundeberg • Staaff • Lindman • Staaff • Hammarskjöld • Swartz • Edén • Branting • De Geer (1854-1935) • 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
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