Prime Minister of Sweden

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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.

1 History
2 The office
3 Official residences
4 Salary
5 List of officeholders
6 Statistics
7 Notes
8 See also
9 External links

[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:

Independent/unaffiliated Lantmanna Party Protectionist Majority Party National Party Liberal Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Freeminded People's Party Liberal Party Centre Party Liberal People's Party Moderate Party Christian Democrats

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

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

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Prime Minister's Office, official website

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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