Election Guide 2002 - Sweden.se

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Referendums The constitution permits popular referendums in two different cases. The first is that the Riksdag may enact a law under which a consultative (non-binding) referendum is to be held. Only five such referendums have taken place. The latest was held in 1994 and concerned the Swedish membership of the European Union. In 1979 the constitution was amended so that decisive (binding) referendums may be held on amendments to the constitution. One-third of the MPs can bring about such a referendum, which must then be held simultaneously with the general elections. As yet, no such referendum has taken place. Subsidies to parties Since 1966, state subsidies have been paid to every political party which has a significant electoral following. They are paid in the form of “party subsidies” and “secretariat subsidies”. A party is eligible for a party subsidy if it has gained at least one seat in the Riksdag or 2.5% of the votes throughout the whole country at either of the last two elections. To qualify for secretariat subsidies, a party is required either to have won a seat in the Riksdag in the last election or have received at least 4% of the votes in the whole country in the last election. The size of the subsidies is related to party strength. Secretariat subsidies, including basic subsidies and additional subsidies per seat, are larger for opposition parties than for parties represented in the government. No conditions are attached to the subsidies, nor is there any public audit of their expenditure. At regional and local levels there are subsidies similar to those paid by the state to the national party organisations. Party district organisations thus receive funds from the county councils, and their municipal organisations receive subsidies from the municipal councils. 10
The political parties The seven parties currently represented in the Riksdag are: v The Centre Party (Centerpartiet, c) v The Christian Democratic Party (Kristdemokraterna, kd) v The Green Party (Miljöpartiet, mp) v The Left Party (Vänsterpartiet, v) v The Liberal Party (Folkpartiet Liberalerna, fp) v The Moderate Party (Moderata Samlingspartiet, m) v The Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokratiska Arbetarepartiet, usually shortened to Socialdemokraterna, s) An eighth party, New Democracy (Ny Demokrati, nyd), was represented in the Riksdag during the 1991-94 term. Parliamentary elections since 1973 Voter turnout in Sweden is traditionally very high, about 90%, which is roughly 10% higher than in any comparable West European country. At the parliamentary elections in 1991 and 1994, turnout was about 87%. In 1998, however, it was about 81%. The 1973 election resulted in a hung Riksdag, with the socialist and non-socialist blocs gaining 175 seats each. Some matters now had to be decided by the drawing of lots. Therefore a representation reform was passed, reducing the number of seats from 350 to 349. A change of government occurred in 1976, when the non-socialists polled more votes than the socialists. This victory was repeated in 1979, by the smallest possible margin of one seat. 1982 brought another change of government, however, with the socialist bloc in the ascendant. Despite a reduction of their following, the Social Democrats remained in office until 1991, when 11
Page 1 and 2: Swedish Election Guide 2002 1
Page 3: Contents Foreword..................
Page 7 and 8: The Swedish political system Histor
Page 9: After the general election in 1994,
Page 13: Local government Swedish democracy
Page 16 and 17: equired to give advance notice of p
Page 18 and 19: atio in connection with the first e
Page 20 and 21: The Centre Party 20 Centerpartiet
Page 22 and 23: 22 In this year’s election Maud w
Page 24 and 25: Equal conditions are a prerequisite
Page 26 and 27: 5. Equal development opportunities
Page 28 and 29: 28 Centre Party endorses the Riksda
Page 30 and 31: The Christian Democratic Party 30 K
Page 32 and 33: 32 and, of course, bandy. He has be
Page 34 and 35: has about 24,000 members and organi
Page 36 and 37: Important topics for the 2002 elect
Page 38 and 39: training capacity, better working c
Page 40: 40 Names and addresses Party Headqu
Page 43 and 44: Maria Wetterstrand Maria Wetterstra
Page 45 and 46: mentarians and ministers, co-ordina
Page 47 and 48: quality control in all schools, bot
Page 49 and 50: 17. Better terms for animals! We de
Page 51 and 52: 30. Cancel Third World debts and in
Page 53 and 54: Names and addresses National Office
Page 55 and 56: Gudrun Schyman Gudrun Schyman is on
Page 57 and 58: legislation requiring large corpora
Page 59 and 60: profit considerations. The same goe
Page 61 and 62:
Names and addresses Party Headquart
Page 64 and 65:
The Liberal Party 64 Folkpartiet Li
Page 66 and 67:
History of the Liberal Party In 189
Page 68 and 69:
The following is the Liberal Party
Page 70 and 71:
Disabled care v Restore the right t
Page 72:
72 Names and addresses Party Headqu
Page 75 and 76:
Bo Lundgren MP, Chairman of the Mod
Page 77 and 78:
chaired by Carl Bildt - and the Eur
Page 79 and 80:
had had a Prime Minister belonging
Page 81 and 82:
The party election manifesto adopte
Page 83 and 84:
will not be worth so much. It is ob
Page 86 and 87:
The Social Democratic Party 86 Soci
Page 88 and 89:
88 and more common assumption of re
Page 90 and 91:
founded in 1992. It succeeded the C
Page 92 and 93:
persons hesitate to start families.
Page 94:
94 Names and addresses Party Headqu
Page 97 and 98:
Press Centre for foreign correspond
Page 99 and 100:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and F
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