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The Swedish Liberal Party
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True or false? The People's Party formed a government on their own in 1978, even though they only had about 11% of the votes.
It is the late 19th century. Sweden is a democracy, but not everyone can vote. The voters are men with property, or wealth. And the more you own, the more votes you have. These people want to change that.
They are liberals. They think that more people should be allowed to vote. They also want to reduce the power of the king and the church. In 1902, they form the Free-minded National Association, and demand that everyone should be allowed to vote - men and women, wealthy and poor; and that everyone who votes has one vote of equal worth to everyone else's, no more, no less. They cooperate with the Social Democrats and together, in 1919, they successfully establish universal and equal voting rights for both men and women.
For a long time, the party has focused on getting one proposal through. And now they’ve succeeded. So what happens? Well, arguments start. Some Liberals think that Sweden should ban alcohol.
The Liberals who don’t want to ban it form a separate party. Suddenly, there are two Liberal parties. But fewer people vote for these two parties, so they decide to cooperate. In 1934, they form The People's Party. During the second World War, Sweden’s government consists of several parties cooperating in parliament - a national unity government.
The People’s Party is part of this, even though they think Sweden should distance itself more clearly from the Nazis in Germany. In 1944, Bertil Ohlin becomes leader of the People’s Party. He thinks that the state has too much control over the economy. He wants supply and demand to control the price of goods and services - this is called a market economy. But he also wants the state to offer security for all people, for example the sick or the unemployed.
This is called social liberalism. During the 1960s and 70's, fewer people vote for The People’s Party, so they seek cooperation with other centre-right parties. In the 1976 elections, the centre-right parties win a majority in parliament. The People's Party joins with The Centre Party and The Moderate Party to form a government. But the three parties argue about how Sweden should produce energy.
The Centre Party wants to abolish nuclear power immediately, while the others think that this can wait. This disagreement shatters the government after only two years. The People’s Party then forms a government on its own, even though they only have about 11% of the votes. In 1991, the centre-right parties win the election and form a government, but now The Moderate Party is the largest of them. Together the centre-right carry out reforms: More private ownership, more competition, and fewer regulations.
Before the 2002 elections, The People’s Party triggers debate by proposing that immigrants must pass a language test to become Swedish citizens. In this debate, the party is accused of trying to win votes by proposing something they think the voters like - that it is a populist proposal. Prior to the 2006 election, the centre-right parties collaborate under the name The Alliance. It goes well, and they win the election. In 2007, Jan Björklund becomes leader of The People’s Party.
He calls the Social Democrats' education policy ‘planless’. He wants more order in classrooms, grading of younger children, and clearer ‘knowledge requirements’ in schools. Under Björklund’s leadership, the People’s Party becomes the first to propose, in Parliament, that Sweden join the defence alliance NATO. During these years the Alliance receives many votes, but the People's Party loses votes. In 2015, the People’s Party changes its name to The Liberals.
When the party started, they campaigned for many things that seem obvious today, but at that time, meant big changes: universal and equal voting rights, the right to education for all, and an economy not controlled by the state. As of 2022, the leader of the Liberal Party is Johan Pehrson. He and the party are calling for: reduced income tax grading for students at a younger age, and more hours spent in school That Sweden needs to do more to fight crime better integration of immigrants into society through education and stronger measures against honour-based cultures. The party has historically found itself in the middle, and has collaborated with centre-right parties as well as with the Social Democrats. During the last four years alone, they have both supported and voted against the current Social Democratic-led government.
Newly elected leader Johan Pehrson has now clearly stated that his Party will support a liberal-conservative cabinet after the 2022 elections.