Politics of Sweden

Politics of Sweden
Basic Laws Instrument of Government Act of Succession Freedom of the Press Act Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression
Monarchy King (list): Carl XVI Gustaf Crown Princess: Victoria Royal family Royal Court Marshal of the Realm: Fredrik Wersäll
Executive Government: Kristersson cabinet Prime Minister (list): Ulf Kristersson Deputy Prime Minister: Ebba Busch Government offices Ministries Government agencies
Legislature Riksdag Speaker: Andreas Norlén Deputy Speakers 1st — Åsa Lindestam 2nd — Lotta Johnsson Fornarve 3rd — Kerstin Lundgren Membership Current members National apportionment Committees War Delegation
Judiciary Supreme Court Courts of appeal District courts Supreme Administrative Court Administrative courts of appeal Administrative courts Council on Legislation Judicial review
Elections Political parties Recent elections General: 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 European: 2009 2014 2019 2024 Local: 2014 2018 Referendums
Administrative divisions Counties County administrative boards Regional councils Municipalities
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Tobias Billström Diplomatic missions of / in Sweden Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Sweden–NATO relations China–Sweden relations Denmark–Sweden relations Finland–Sweden relations France–Sweden relations Germany–Sweden relations Italy–Sweden relations Norway–Sweden relations Russia–Sweden relations Sweden–Turkey relations Sweden–United Kingdom relations Sweden–United States relations Politics of the European Union
Related topics Sámi Parliament Armed Forces Police Authority
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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 of Sweden. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament, elected within a multi-party system. The judiciary 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 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 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.^[1] According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Sweden was 2023 the third most electoral democratic country in the world.^[2] According to Freedom House Sweden scored scored 40/40 for protection of political rights in 2020.^[3]