Election Guide 2002 - Sweden.se

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and more common assumption of responsibility.
We need policies, democratically
made decisions, which can influence society
in the right direction.
That is why I am a Social Democrat and
have involved myself in politics. That is also
why I hope everyone will exercise their right
and opportunity of voting in the election on
15th September this year.
Göran Persson (s)
History
During the second half of the 19 th century, Sweden went
through a very rapid process of industrialisation. Landless
agricultural workers became the new industrial proletariat.
The class differences were immense, poverty and distress
widespread. This was a state of affairs which engendered
trade-unionism and political parties. The working class
began to organise in order to improve its working and living
conditions.
The Swedish Social Democratic Party was founded in
1889. The party´s first Member of the Parliament was
Hjalmar Branting, elected to the Second Chamber in 1896.
Some 30 years were to pass before he was able to form the
first Social Democratic government. The party was in
government, with a short break, for 44 years (1932-1976),
and for 15 years in coalition with one or more parties.
The campaign for better living conditions demanded a
common trade-unionist and political strategy. The close
co-operation between the Social Democrats and the
Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) has left a
profound imprint on Swedish politics.
At a very early stage, the Swedish labour movement
opted for peaceful process of social change. It is through
reforms and peaceful development that society is to be
altered.