Liberals (Sweden)

The Liberals (Swedish: Liberalerna, L), previously known as the Liberal People's Party (Swedish: Folkpartiet liberalerna) until 22 November 2015, is a conservative liberal[12] political party in Sweden. The Liberals ideologically have shown a broad variety of liberal tendencies. Currently they are seen as following classical liberalism[3] and economic liberalism.[13][14] The party is a member of the Liberal International and Renew Europe.

"Liberalerna" redirects here. For the political party in Åland, see Liberals for Åland.

The Liberals
Liberalerna
AbbreviationL
LeaderJohan Pehrson
Party secretaryGulan Avci
Parliamentary Group LeaderLina Nordquist
Founded5 August 1934 (1934-08-05)
Merger ofFL and SLP
HeadquartersRiksgatan 2, Stockholm
Youth wingLiberal Youth of Sweden
Membership (2020)Decrease 12,179[1]
IdeologyConservative liberalism[2]
Classical liberalism[3]
European federalism[4]
Political positionCentre-right[5][6][7]
European affiliationAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
International affiliationLiberal International
European Parliament groupRenew Europe
Nordic affiliationCentre Group
Colours
  •   Blue
  •   White
Riksdag[8]
16 / 349
European Parliament[9]
1 / 21
County councils[10]
94 / 1,696
Municipal councils[11]
689 / 12,700
Website
www.liberalerna.se

Historically the party was positioned in the centre of the Swedish political landscape, willing to cooperate with both the political left and the right. It has since the leaderships of Lars Leijonborg and Jan Björklund in the 2000s positioned itself more towards the right.[5][15][16] It was a part of the Alliance centre-right coalition government led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt from 2006 to 2014. The party's policies include action toward a free market economy and pushing for Sweden to join NATO and the Eurozone, as well as investing in nuclear power;[17] it also focuses on gender equality, the school system and quality education.[5][15]

In February 2019, following the conclusion of government negotiations, Jan Björklund announced his intention to step down from the leadership position after 11 years at the helm of the Liberals. He was succeeded by Nyamko Sabuni in June 2019.[18] After the 2021 Swedish government crisis, the party withdrew their support for Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, and is now promoting a right-wing government together with the Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats, with support from the Sweden Democrats, with Ulf Kristersson as their Prime Minister candidate. In an interview with Dagens Nyheter in February 2022, Sabuni stated that the Sweden Democrats will "play an important role in an eventual right-wing government" and that she would not be hesitant to work and collaborate with them, stating that there is a possibility of Liberals supporting a Moderate-Christian Democrats-Sweden Democrats government, even if the Liberals are not included in the government.[19] Since the decision to collaborate with the Sweden Democrats, the party has adopted more right-wing populist viewpoints, such as a more restrictive migration policy, easier withdrawal of citizenship for immigrants, and has strongly criticised Muslim schools.[20][21][22] The party ultimately agreed to join the Tidö Agreement and form a coalition government with the Christian Democrats and the Moderate Party, which rely closely on support from the Sweden Democrats.[23]

History

2006 computer hacking scandal
Main article: 2006 Swedish electoral espionage affair

On 4 September 2006, only weeks before the 2006 general election, the Social Democratic Party reported to the police that its internal network had been hacked into. It has been reported that members of the Liberal People's Party had copied secret information not yet officially released to counter-attack Social Democrat political propositions on at least two occasions. On 5 September the Party Secretary, Johan Jakobsson, voluntarily chose to resign. Leading members of the party and its youth organisation were under police investigation suspected for criminal activity. All members of the party were acquitted by the court however, while an official of the party's youth organisation, as well as one from the Social Democrats and a newspaper reporter, were found guilty.[26][27][28][29][30]

Ideology
People's Party election workers, 1940 election

The official party ideology has historically been social liberalism,[31] which translates as a strong ideological commitment to a mixed economy, with support for comprehensive but market-based welfare state programs.

While initially allied with the Swedish Social Democratic Party in the struggle for democracy (achieved in 1921) and social reform, the People's Party came to be part of the opposition from the thirties and onwards, opposing Social Democrat demands for nationalization of private businesses. It has stayed opposed to the Social Democrats ever since, often as the largest or second-largest party of the opposition block (called the non-socialists or "de borgerliga", approximately the bourgeois), but often equally critical towards parties on the right. Over time, this has shifted towards a more clear-cut rightwing role. In the mid-nineties the party seemed to have ruled out the alternative of co-operation with the Social Democrats, focusing instead on bringing them down by strengthening the opposition.

Foreign policy is another high-profile issue. Always oriented towards the United States and the United Kingdom, the party was a strong opponent of Communism and Nazism during the 20th century. While it was part of and supported the Swedish coalition government and its position of neutrality during World War II, the party advocated an active stance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The party (alongside Moderaterna) actively supported the struggle of the Baltic peoples against the Soviet regime, whereas Social Democrats were wary of irritating the Soviets.[32] As a consequence, it suffered several sharply worded rebukes from the often-ruling Social Democrats for endangering Swedish relations with the Soviet Union. It also criticised what it perceived as Social Democrat tolerance of left-wing dictatorships in the third world, and supported the United States in the Vietnam War. After the end of the Cold War, it became the first Swedish party to call for abandoning the country's traditional neutrality in favor of joining NATO.

Among issues concerning the developing world, the party supported decolonization and advocated boycotting South Africa to help overthrow apartheid rule. It also opposed third world Communist dictatorships. Nowadays it is strongly supportive of Israel, and former Party leader Per Ahlmark has been especially vocal on the issue.

On the European level, the Liberal People's Party was strongly supportive of the emergence of the European Union and campaigned for Swedish entry into it (which happened in 1995). It also campaigned for joining the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, but this was voted down by the Swedes in a referendum in 2003. The party has aimed to come across as the most "pro-European" party, trying to break what it refers to as the country's "isolationist" mindset. It is supportive of EU enlargement, including letting Turkey join on condition of democratic reforms, and also advocates further integrative measures, with some members, including the youth organization, openly calling for a single federal European state.

In 2003 the Liberal People's Party supported the invasion of Iraq, but stopped short of demanding Swedish participation in the US-led "coalition of the willing". In recent years, and especially under the leadership of Jan Björklund, the party has moved markedly towards conservative liberalism in its social attitudes, taking tougher stands on areas such as crime and punishment, law and order, school and discipline as well as strengthening its abolitionist policies on drugs. In 2008 the Liberal People's Party's support for a controversial legislative change regulating the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) in particular upset its youth organisation.

Voter base

Statistical changes in voter base
Socio-economic group and gender of voters Percentage of which voting for the Liberals
Groups/Gender 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Blue-collar workers 8 5 5 3 3 2
White-collar workers 20 11 10 8 7 6
Businessmen and farmers 15 7 7 7 5 6
Male 14 8 8 6 6 5
Female 16 8 8 5 5 4
Source: [33]

Historically the party had a strong base in the 'free churches' (Protestant congregations not part of the state church that turned into powerful grassroots movements in the late 19th century), but with the exception of certain regions, that is not a significant feature today. Tensions between factions sometimes described as "the free religionists" and "the metropolitan liberals" (occasionally in the form of an open left-right conflict, with the "free religious" members emphasizing the social aspect over liberal economics) was an important part of party life until the seventies. It provoked a party split in the twenties, centred on the question of an alcohol ban, but differences were eventually repaired. (The re-merging of the parties in 1934 is one of the party's plethora of official creation dates, some others being 1895, 1900 and 1902, providing frequent cause for anniversary celebrations.)

Support for the party is more marked among people above the age of 65, and tends to be higher among people who have completed more education. Its support is lowest among people with a pre-gymnasial education.[34] The party's voters are predominantly urban with more than 30% of L-voters residing in Metropolitan Stockholm. The party's support is especially strong in affluent municipalities such as Danderyd, Lidingö and Lomma.[35] According to Sveriges Television's exit poll for the 2019 European parliament election, voters of the Liberals were the most likely to approve of Sweden's EU membership.[36] In September 2022, 84% of L-voters supported Sweden's bid to join NATO.[37]

Affiliated organisations and international memberships

The party has a youth organization called Liberal Youth of Sweden (Liberala ungdomsförbundet, LUF), which has its own platform and maintains a separate organisation from the party.[38] Since 2019 its chairperson is Romina Pourmokhtari.[39]

There is also a women's organization called Liberal Women[40] (Liberala Kvinnor, LK, chairperson Cecilia Elving[41]) and immigrants' organization called Liberal Mångfald, LM, (Liberal Multicultural Association, chairperson Anna Steele Karlström). Additionally, party members maintain a number of small ad hoc "networks" addressing specific issues.[42]

Representation in the EU institutions

The Liberals is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and Liberal International. It is also part of Liberal organisations on the Nordic and Baltic levels. The party's MEP sits with Renew Europe parliamentary group (previously ALDE).

In the European Committee of the Regions, the Liberals sit in the Renew Europe CoR group with one full member for the 2020-2025 mandate.[43]

Electoral results

Riksdag
Election[44] Votes  % Seats +/– Government
1936 376,161 12.9 (#4)
27 / 230
 Increase 3 Opposition
1940 344,113 12.0 (#3)
23 / 230
 Decrease 4 Coalition
1944 398,293 12.9 (#4)
26 / 230
 Increase 3 Coalition (1944–1945)
Opposition (1945–1948)
1948 882,437 22.7 (#2)
57 / 230
 Increase 31 Opposition
1952 924,819 24.4 (#2)
58 / 230
 Increase 1 Opposition
1956 923,564 23.8 (#2)
58 / 231
 Steady 0 Opposition
1958 700,019 18.2 (#3)
38 / 231
 Decrease 20 Opposition
1960 744,142 17.5 (#2)
40 / 232
 Increase 2 Opposition
1964 720,733 17.0 (#2)
43 / 233
 Increase 3 Opposition
1968 688,456 14.3 (#3)
34 / 233
 Decrease 9 Opposition
1970 806,667 16.2 (#3)
58 / 350
 Increase 24 Opposition
1973 486,028 9.4 (#4)
34 / 350
 Decrease 24 Opposition
1976 601,556 11.1 (#4)
39 / 349
 Increase 5 Coalition (1976–1978)
Minority (1978–1979)
1979 577,063 10.6 (#4)
38 / 349
 Decrease 1 Coalition
1982 327,770 5.9 (#4)
21 / 349
 Decrease 17 Opposition
1985 792,268 14.2 (#3)
51 / 349
 Increase 30 Opposition
1988 655,720 12.2 (#3)
44 / 349
 Decrease 7 Opposition
1991 499,356 9.1 (#3)
33 / 349
 Decrease 11 Coalition
1994 399,556 7.2 (#4)
26 / 349
 Decrease 7 Opposition
1998 248,076 4.7 (#6)
17 / 349
 Decrease 9 Opposition
2002 710,312 13.4 (#3)
48 / 349
 Increase 31 Opposition
2006 418,395 7.5 (#4)
28 / 349
 Decrease 20 Coalition
2010 420,524 7.1 (#4)
24 / 349
 Decrease 4 Coalition
2014 336,977 5.4 (#7)
19 / 349
 Decrease 5 Opposition
2018 355,546 5.5 (#7)
20 / 349
 Increase 1 External support (2018–2021)
Opposition (2021–2022)
2022 297,566 4.61 (#8)
16 / 349
 Decrease 4 Coalition

European Parliament
Election Votes % Seats +/–
1995 129,376 4.8 (#6)
1 / 22
1999 350,339 13.8 (#4)
3 / 22
 Increase 2
2004 247,750 9.9 (#5)
2 / 19
 Decrease 1
2009 430,385 13.6 (#3)
3 / 18
3 / 20
 Increase 1
Steady 0
2014 368,514 9.9 (#4)
2 / 20
 Decrease 1
2019 171,419 4.1 (#8)
1 / 20
 Decrease 1

Party leaders
Leader Took office Left office
Gustaf Andersson 1935 28 September 1944
Bertil Ohlin 28 September 1944 1967
Sven Wedén 1967 26 September 1969
Gunnar Helén 1969 7 November 1975
Per Ahlmark 7 November 1975 4 March 1978
Ola Ullsten 4 March 1978 1 October 1983
Bengt Westerberg 1 October 1983 4 February 1995
Maria Leissner 4 February 1995 15 March 1997
Lars Leijonborg 15 March 1997 7 September 2007
Jan Björklund 7 September 2007 28 June 2019
Nyamko Sabuni 28 June 2019 8 April 2022
Johan Pehrson 8 April 2022 Incumbent

Symbols
  • Current logo
    Current logo
  • Transitionary logo after rename as the Liberals (2015)
    Transitionary logo after rename as the Liberals (2015)
  • Logo of the Liberal People's Party
    Logo of the Liberal People's Party

See also

References
  1. "Stort medlemstapp för Liberalerna" [Big drop in membership drop for The Liberals]. Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 14 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  2. Caroline Close (2019). "The liberal family ideology: Distinct, but diverse". In Emilie van Haute; Caroline Close (eds.). Liberal Parties in Europe. Taylor & Francis. p. 344. ISBN 978-1-351-24549-4.
  3. "Liberalerna" [Liberals]. Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish).
  4. "Liberalernas nya politik: Kämpa för EU-federation". 21 November 2017.
  5. "The Liberal Party - Folkpartiet". Sveriges Radio. 27 August 2014.
  6. "Crisis, conservatism, and China: the centre-right jockeys for position". The Local. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. Josep M. Colomer (25 July 2008). Political Institutions in Europe. Routledge. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-134-07354-2.
  8. "2018 Val till riksdagen - Valda" (in Swedish). Election Authority (Sweden). Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  9. "Valresultat 2019" (in Swedish). Election Authority (Sweden). 31 May 2019.
  10. "2018 Val till landstingsfullmäktige - Valda" (in Swedish). Election Authority (Sweden). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  11. "2018 Val till kommunfullmäktige - Valda" (in Swedish). Election Authority (Sweden). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  12. Slomp, Hans (26 September 2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 433. ISBN 978-0-313-39182-8. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  13. Mühlbauer, Peter (2018). "Trump mahnt Zollreziprozität an" (in German). Telepolis. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  14. Hecking, Claus (2018). "Diese Regierungsbildung wird kompliziert" (in German). Der Spiegel. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  15. "Folkpartiet – historia och ideologi". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 18 April 2011.
  16. Hennel, Lena (23 July 2014). "Alliansens ståndaktige soldat". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish).
  17. "Liberalerna vill att kärnkraftsreaktorn Ringhals 1 återstartas". SVT Nyheter. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  18. "Nyamko Sabuni ny partiledare för Liberalerna" (in Swedish). The Liberals. 28 June 2019.
  19. "Nyamko Sabuni om samarbetet i höst: "SD kommer att vara en viktig del"". 2 February 2022.
  20. Larsson, Simon (2 May 2021). "Fyra partierna är överens – vill ändra migrationslagen". Expressen. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  21. "L-förslag: Medborgarskap ska kunna återkallas". SVT Nyheter. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  22. "Muslimska friskolan får kritik även från politiskt håll". SVT Nyheter. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. Szumski, Charles (17 October 2022). "Swedish Moderates strike government deal, far-right influence increases". www.euractiv.com.
  24. Johnson, Simon (6 February 2019). "Swedish Liberal leader to step down, casts shadow over govt's stability". Reuters. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  25. "Valresultat 2022". val.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  26. Liberal admits Social Democrat computer hack, The Local, 4 September 2006 Archived 25 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  27. Press officer behind Liberals' computer scandal, The Local, 4 September 2006 Archived 25 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  28. Police to question more Liberal activists, The Local, 5 September 2006 Archived 25 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  29. Liberal party secretary resigns, The Local, 5 September 2006 Archived 25 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  30. Three convicted for people's party's computer infringement, Sveriges Radio, 27 April 2007 Archived 5 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  31. Annesley, Claire, ed. (11 January 2013). A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe. Routledge. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-203-40341-9.
  32. Ett liv för Baltikum : journalistiska memoarer. - Stockholm : Timbro, 2002. - 351 s. : ill. - ISBN 91-7566-530-1
  33. "VALU: Väljargrupper". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  34. "Partisympatier maj 2019" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 11 June 2019.
  35. "Valresultat 2022 – för riksdagsvalet, region- och kommunval". valresultat.svt.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  36. "Visualiseringar av Valun för EU-valet 2019". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  37. "SVT:s Vallokalsundersökning Riksdagsvalet 2022" (PDF).
  38. "Liberala ungdomsförbundet" (in Swedish). LUF. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  39. "Romina Pourmokthari" (in Swedish). LUF. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  40. "Liberala Kvinnor" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  41. "Cecilia Elving ny ordförande i Liberala Kvinnor" (in Swedish). Liberala Kvinnor. 4 March 2019.
  42. "Våra vänner" (in Swedish). The Liberals. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  43. "CoR Members Page".
  44. Statistiska Centralbyrån Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 8 July 2012
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