Jump to content

Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Current official "de jure" deputy pm is Isabella Lövin. "Vice statsminister" is used in official contexts, such as on the Government's website.
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 2);
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Deputy head of government of Sweden}}
{{Infobox official post
{{Infobox official post
| post = Deputy to the Prime Minister
| post = Deputy Prime Minister
| body = Sweden
| body = Sweden
| native_name = ''Statsministerns ställföreträdare''/<br>''Vice statsminister''
| native_name = ''Ställföreträdande statsminister''
| insignia = Great coat of arms of Sweden (without mantle).svg
| flag =
| flagsize =
| insigniasize = 125px
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of Sweden]]
| flagborder =
| flag = Flag_of_Sweden.svg
| flagcaption =
| flagsize = 125px
| insignia = Lilla riksvapnet - Riksarkivet Sverige.png
| insigniasize = 130px
| flagborder = yes
| insigniacaption = Lesser coat of arms of Sweden
| flagcaption = [[Flag of Sweden]]
| department =
| department =
| image = File:Ebba Busch - Into the Woods - November 24, 2022 (52520720684) (cropped).jpg
| image =
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| alt =
| incumbent = [[Isabella Lövin]] <small>(de jure)</small>
| incumbent = [[Ebba Busch]]
| incumbentsince = 21 January 2019
| incumbentsince = 18 October 2022
| style =
| style =
| residence =
| residence =
| nominator =
| nominator =
| nominatorpost =
| nominatorpost =
| appointer = The [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
| appointer = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
| appointerpost =
| appointerpost =
| termlength = No fixed term,<br>{{small|Serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister}}
| termlength = No fixed term
| inaugural = [[Gunnar Sträng]]
| inaugural = [[Gunnar Sträng]]
| formation = January 1, 1975
| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1975|1|1}}
| last =
| last =
| abolished =
| abolished =
Line 33: Line 35:
{{Politics of Sweden|government}}
{{Politics of Sweden|government}}


The '''deputy prime minister of Sweden''' ({{langx|sv|Ställföreträdande statsminister}}) is the deputy [[head of government]] of [[Sweden]]. The incumbent deputy prime minister is [[Ebba Busch]].
⚫
The [[Basic Laws of Sweden|Swedish constitution]] allows the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] to appoint one of the [[minister (government)|Minister]]s in the cabinet as [[deputy prime minister]] ({{lang-sv|statsministers ställföreträdare}}, sometimes known as ''vice statsminister''), in case the Prime Minister for some reason is prevented from performing his or her duties. If a Deputy Prime Minister has not 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 [[head of government]] (these are marked in ''italic'' in the table below).


⚫
The [[Basic Laws of Sweden|Swedish constitution]] allows the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|prime minister]] to appoint one of the [[minister (government)|minister]]s in the cabinet as [[deputy prime minister]] ({{langx|sv|ställföreträdande statsminister}}, sometimes unofficially known as ''vice statsminister''), in case the prime minister for some reason is prevented from performing his or her duties. If a deputy prime minister has not 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 [[head of government]] (these are marked in ''italic'' in the table below).
⚫
A Deputy Prime Minister can only serve as Prime Minister in a temporary function, as the resignation of a Prime Minister automatically includes the entire cabinet, and the [[Basic Laws of Sweden#Instrument of Government|Instrument of Government]] requires the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] to dismiss the cabinet in the case of the death of the Prime Minister.

⚫
A deputy prime minister can only serve as prime minister in a temporary function, as the resignation of a prime minister automatically includes the entire Cabinet, and the [[Basic Laws of Sweden#Instrument of Government|Instrument of Government]] requires the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] to dismiss the Cabinet in the case of the death of the prime minister.


== History ==
== History ==


=== Origins of the office ===
=== Origins of the office ===
Historically, under the 1809 Instrument of Government the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the "second excellency" and to date the only formal "minister" save for the Prime Minister, the other cabinet members' formal title being ''Councillor of State for... etc'') was to function as acting Prime Minister should the Prime Minister not be able not to perform his duties. With the enactment of the 1974 Instrument of Government and the inauguration of [[Thorbjörn Fälldin]]'s three-party cabinet in 1976, [[Per Ahlmark]] was formally sworn in as the first to hold the office of Deputy Prime Minister.
Historically, under the 1809 Instrument of Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the "second excellency" and to date the only formal "minister" save for the Prime Minister, the other cabinet members' formal title being ''Councillor of State for... etc'') was to function as acting Prime Minister should the Prime Minister not be able not to perform his duties. With the enactment of the 1974 Instrument of Government and the inauguration of [[Thorbjörn Fälldin]]'s three-party cabinet in 1976, [[Per Ahlmark]] was formally sworn in as the first to hold the office of Deputy Prime Minister.


=== Palme assassination ===
=== Palme assassination ===
Line 46: Line 50:


=== Role in coalition governments ===
=== Role in coalition governments ===
The role and position of a Deputy Prime Minister may vary. In the five last coalition cabinets, Fälldin III, Bildt and Reinfeldt I and II, and Löfven, the Deputy Prime Minister was the head of the second-largest coalition partner (Liberals in Fälldin III, Bildt and Reinfeldt II, Centre in Reinfeldt I, Green in Löfven). In the governments Fälldin I and II, however, the Deputy Prime Ministership belonged to the Liberal Party despite the fact that it was the smallest of the three members. The reason for this might be ascribed to an unwillingness on behalf of the Centre and Liberals to give this position to the Moderates, due to ideological differences. In all of these governments, however, the Deputy Prime Minister also had a regular Cabinet portfolio.
The role and position of a Deputy Prime Minister may vary. In the five last coalition cabinets, [[Fälldin III cabinet|Fälldin III]], [[Reinfeldt cabinet|Bildt and Reinfeldt I]] and II, and Löfven, the Deputy Prime Minister was the head of the second-largest coalition partner (Liberals in Fälldin III, Bildt and Reinfeldt II, Centre in Reinfeldt I, Green in Löfven). In the governments Fälldin I and II, however, the Deputy Prime Ministership belonged to the Liberal Party despite the fact that it was the smallest of the three members. The reason for this might be ascribed to an unwillingness on behalf of the Centre and Liberals to give this position to the Moderates, due to ideological differences. In all of these governments, however, the Deputy Prime Minister also had a regular Cabinet portfolio.


In July 2015, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister was the subject of some political debate. Following a brief illness of the social democratic Prime Minister, [[Stefan Löfven]], the Prime Minister's office revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson of the Green Party, although named ''Vice statsminister'' ("Vice Prime Minister") when the cabinet took office in October 2014, was in fact not expected to temporarily assume the duties of the Prime Minister as ''Statsministerns ställföreträdare'' ("Deputy of the Prime Minister") as stated in the Instrument of Government, instead yielding to the most senior minister of the cabinet. Effectively this made the social democratic then-Foreign Minister [[Margot Wallström]] the actual deputy of the Prime Minister, due to seniority rather than appointment. It also rendered the title of ''Vice statsminister'' an honorary title, for the most senior member of the party functioning as junior partner in the governing coalition, rather than an actual function.<ref>{{cite news|title=Green leader wouldn’t replace PM in crisis|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20150718/green-leader-wouldnt-replace-pm-in-crisis|accessdate=22 July 2015|work=The Local|date=18 July 2015}}</ref>
In July 2015, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister was the subject of some political debate. Following a brief illness of the social democratic Prime Minister, [[Stefan Löfven]], the Prime Minister's office revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson of the Green Party, although named ''Vice statsminister'' ("Vice Prime Minister") when the cabinet took office in October 2014, was in fact not expected to temporarily assume the duties of the Prime Minister as ''Statsministerns ställföreträdare'' ("Deputy of the Prime Minister") as stated in the Instrument of Government, instead yielding to the most senior minister of the cabinet. Effectively this made the social democratic then-Foreign Minister [[Margot Wallström]] the actual deputy of the Prime Minister, due to seniority rather than appointment. It also rendered the title of ''Vice statsminister'' an honorary title, for the most senior member of the party functioning as junior partner in the governing coalition, rather than an actual function.<ref>{{cite news|title=Green leader wouldn’t replace PM in crisis|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20150718/green-leader-wouldnt-replace-pm-in-crisis|access-date=22 July 2015|work=The Local|date=18 July 2015}}</ref>


=== Role in one-party governments ===
=== Role in one-party governments ===
The situation is different in the one-party governments that have existed since the position of Deputy Prime Minister was introduced in 1976, namely the Liberal Ullsten government and the Social Democratic governments Palme II, Carlsson I-III and Persson. While [[Mona Sahlin]] might well have been described as something of a "successor-in-waiting" (even if she ultimately did not succeed [[Ingvar Carlsson]] to the Premiership), the other Deputy Prime Ministers have tended to be older and experienced politicians who have often been in charge of coordinating the work of the Government and may also have been in charge of some policy areas of their own which were not substantial enough to warrant a full-time Cabinet position, such as [[Bo Ringholm]], who was Minister of Sport concurrently with being Deputy Prime Minister.
The situation is different in the one-party governments that have existed since the position of Deputy Prime Minister was introduced in 1976, namely the Liberal Ullsten government and the Social Democratic governments Palme II, Carlsson I-III and Persson. While [[Mona Sahlin]] might well have been described as something of a "successor-in-waiting" (even if she ultimately did not succeed [[Ingvar Carlsson]] to the Premiership), the other Deputy Prime Ministers have tended to be older and experienced politicians who have often been in charge of coordinating the work of the Government and may also have been in charge of some policy areas of their own which were not substantial enough to warrant a full-time Cabinet position, such as [[Bo Ringholm]], who was Minister of Sport concurrently with being Deputy Prime Minister.

== Legal status ==
According to 10 § Chapter 6 of the [[Basic Laws of Sweden|Instrument of Government]], the Prime Minister may appoint a deputy who assumes the duties of the Prime Minister in case the latter is for some reason prevented from performing their duties. If such a deputy has not been appointed or if the appointed deputy is prevented from performing their duties, the minister who has served for the longest period of time assumes the office. If two or more ministers have served for an equal amount of time, seniority decides.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Riksdagsförvaltningen|title=Kungörelse (1974:152) om beslutad ny regeringsform Svensk författningssamling 1974:1974:152 t.o.m. SFS 2018:1903 - Riksdagen|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/kungorelse-1974152-om-beslutad-ny-regeringsform_sfs-1974-152|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.riksdagen.se|language=sv}}</ref>


== List of officeholders ==
== List of officeholders ==
Line 66: Line 73:
! Party
! Party
! Prime Minister
! Prime Minister
{{Officeholder table
⚫
| order2 = –
| image = Gunnar Sträng by Roger Tillberg.jpg
| officeholder = [[Gunnar Sträng]]
| born_year = 1906
| died_year = 1992
| term_start = 1 January 1975
| term_end = 8 October 1976
⚫
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|1975|1|1|1976|10|8}}
| alt_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| alt_officeholder = [[Olof Palme]]
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| title = [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Minister for Finance]]
| acting = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 1
| order2 = 1
| image = Per Ahlmark.jpg
| image = Per Ahlmark, 2005.jpg
| officeholder = [[Per Ahlmark]]
| officeholder = [[Per Ahlmark]]
| born_year = 1939
| born_year = 1939
Line 96: Line 118:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = –
| order2 = –
| image = Sven Romanus.jpg
| officeholder = [[Sven Romanus]]
| officeholder = [[Sven Romanus]]
| born_year = 1906
| born_year = 1906
Line 139: Line 162:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 3
| order2 = 3
| image = Ingvar Carlsson på Idrottsgalan 2013.jpg|bSize = 100px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0
| image = Ingvar Carlsson på Idrottsgalan 2013.jpg|bSize = 100|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0
| officeholder = [[Ingvar Carlsson]]
| officeholder = [[Ingvar Carlsson]]
| born_year = 1934
| born_year = 1934
Line 263: Line 286:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = –
| order2 = –
| image = Marita Ulvskog 2009.jpg|bSize = 170px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 0|oLeft = 30
| image = Marita Ulvskog 2009.jpg|bSize = 170|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 0|oLeft = 30
| officeholder = [[Marita Ulvskog]]
| officeholder = [[Marita Ulvskog]]
| born_year = 1951
| born_year = 1951
Line 290: Line 313:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = –
| order2 = –
| image = Laila Freivalds.jpg|bSize = 100px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 7|oLeft = 0
| image = Laila Freivalds.jpg|bSize = 100|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 7|oLeft = 0
| officeholder = [[Laila Freivalds]]
| officeholder = [[Laila Freivalds]]
| born_year = 1942
| born_year = 1942
Line 317: Line 340:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 11
| order2 = 11
| image = Energi- och naringsminister Maud Olofsson. Sverige.jpg|bSize = 100px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 7|oLeft = 0
| image = Energi- och naringsminister Maud Olofsson. Sverige.jpg|bSize = 100|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 7|oLeft = 0
| officeholder = [[Maud Olofsson]]
| officeholder = [[Maud Olofsson]]
| born_year = 1955
| born_year = 1955
Line 330: Line 353:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 12
| order2 = 12
| image = Jan Bjorklund 0c225 3310 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 100px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 4|oLeft = 0
| image = Jan Bjorklund 0c225 3310 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 100|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 4|oLeft = 0
| officeholder = [[Jan Björklund]]
| officeholder = [[Jan Björklund]]
| born_year = 1962
| born_year = 1962
Line 342: Line 365:
}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 13
| order2 = –
| image = Margot_Wahlstrom_Sveriges_EU-kommissionar.jpg|bSize = 100px|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 4|oLeft = 0
| image = Margot_Wahlstrom_Sveriges_EU-kommissionar.jpg|bSize = 100|cWidth = 100|cHeight = 125|oTop = 4|oLeft = 0
| officeholder = [[Margot Wallström]]
| officeholder = [[Margot Wallström]]
| born_year = 1954
| born_year = 1954
| term_start = 3 October 2014
| term_start = 3 October 2014
| term_end =10 September 2019
| term_end = 10 September 2019
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2014|10|3|2019|9|10}}
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2014|10|3|2019|9|10}}
| alt_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| alt_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
Line 357: Line 380:
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = –
| order2 = –
| image = Morgan Johansson.jpg
| officeholder = [[Morgan Johansson]]
| born_year = 1970
| term_start = 10 September 2019
| term_end = 18 October 2022
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2019|9|10|2022|10|18}}
| alt_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| alt_officeholder = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alt_officeholder_term_start = 2019
| alt_officeholder_term_end = 2021
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| title = [[Minister for Justice (Sweden)|Minister for Justice]] (2014–2022)<br> [[Minister for Migration (Sweden)|Minister for Migration]] (2019–2021) <br> [[Minister of the Interior (Sweden)|Minister of the Interior]] (2021–2022)
| acting = y
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Magdalena Andersson]]
| alt_officeholder2_term_start = 2021
| alt_officeholder2_term_end = 2022
| alt_officeholder2_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 13
| image = Kommundagarna 2018 (41924670372) (cropped).jpg
| officeholder = [[Ebba Busch]]
| born_year = 1987
| term_start = 18 October 2022
| term_end = Incumbent
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2022|10|18}}
| alt_party = Christian Democrats (Sweden)
| alt_officeholder = [[Ulf Kristersson]]
| alt_officeholder_party = Moderate Party
| title = [[Minister for Energy (Sweden)|Minister for Energy]], [[Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation|Business, Industry and Innovation]]
}}
|}

== List of people with the honorary title of "deputy prime minister" ==
When [[Stefan Löfven]] became [[Prime Minister of Sweden]] he appointed a cabinet minister with the honorary title of "deputy prime minister", despite not being the designated stand-in should he not be able to carry out his duties as Prime Minister. The honorary title was awarded to one of the two spokespersons of the [[Green Party (Sweden)|Green Party]], the junior coalition partner of his [[Löfven I Cabinet|cabinet]]. With [[Magdalena Andersson]]s appointment as Prime Minister and the withdrawal of the Green Party from the government, this system ceased.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! №
! colspan=2| Deputy Prime Minister
! Position
! Took office
! Left office
! Duration
! Party
! Prime Minister
{{Officeholder table
| order2 =
| image = Asa Romson.1c447 3181.jpg
| image = Asa Romson.1c447 3181.jpg
| officeholder = [[Åsa Romson]] (Honorary title)
| officeholder = [[Åsa Romson]]
| born_year = 1972
| born_year = 1972
| term_start = 3 October 2014
| term_start = 3 October 2014
Line 369: Line 440:
}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = –
| order2 =
| image = Isabella Lövin.jpg
| image = Isabella Lövin.jpg
| officeholder = [[Isabella Lövin]] (Honorary title)
| officeholder = [[Isabella Lövin]]
| born_year = 1963
| born_year = 1963
| term_start = 25 May 2016
| term_start = 25 May 2016
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2016|05|25}}
| term_end = 5 February 2021
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2016|05|25|2021|02|05}}
| alt_party = Green Party (Sweden)
| alt_party = Green Party (Sweden)
| alt_officeholder = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alt_officeholder = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| title = [[Minister for International Development Cooperation (Sweden)|Minister for International Development Cooperation]]
| title = [[Minister for International Development Cooperation (Sweden)|Minister for International Development Cooperation]] (2016–2019)<br> [[Minister for the Climate (Sweden)|Minister for the Climate]] (2016–2021)<br> [[Minister for the Environment (Sweden)|Minister for the Environment]] (2019–2021)
}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 14
| order2 =
| image = Morgan Johansson.jpg
| image = Per Bolund.jpg
| officeholder = [[Morgan Johansson]]
| officeholder = [[Per Bolund]]
| born_year = 1970
| born_year = 1971
| term_start = 10 September 2019
| term_start = 5 February 2021
| term_end = 30 November 2021
⚫
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2019|9|10}}
| alt_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| timeinoffice = {{age in years and days|2021|02|05|2021|11|30}}
| alt_party = Green Party (Sweden)
| alt_officeholder = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alt_officeholder = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| alt_officeholder_party = Swedish Social Democratic Party
| title = [[Minister for Justice (Sweden)|Minister for Justice]]
| title = [[Minister for the Environment (Sweden)|Minister for the Environment]] <br> [[Minister for the Climate (Sweden)|Minister for the Climate]]
⚫
| acting = y
}}
}}
|}
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
Line 406: Line 474:
{{Government ministries of Sweden}}
{{Government ministries of Sweden}}


[[Category:Deputy Prime Ministers of Sweden| ]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Sweden| ]]
[[Category:Politics of Sweden]]
[[Category:Politics of Sweden]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Sweden]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Sweden]]

Latest revision as of 09:02, 30 October 2024

Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
Ställföreträdande statsminister
Coat of arms of Sweden
Flag of Sweden
Incumbent
Ebba Busch
since 18 October 2022
AppointerPrime Minister
Term lengthNo fixed term
Inaugural holderGunnar Sträng
Formation1 January 1975; 49 years ago (1975-01-01)
WebsiteGovernment of Sweden
Politics of Sweden
Basic Laws
Monarchy
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Related topics

The deputy prime minister of Sweden (Swedish: Ställföreträdande statsminister) is the deputy head of government of Sweden. The incumbent deputy prime minister is Ebba Busch.

The Swedish constitution allows the prime minister to appoint one of the ministers in the cabinet as deputy prime minister (Swedish: ställföreträdande statsminister, sometimes unofficially known as vice statsminister), in case the prime minister for some reason is prevented from performing his or her duties. If a deputy prime minister has not 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 head of government (these are marked in italic in the table below).

A deputy prime minister can only serve as prime minister in a temporary function, as the resignation of a prime minister automatically includes the entire Cabinet, and the Instrument of Government requires the Speaker of the Riksdag to dismiss the Cabinet in the case of the death of the prime minister.

History

[edit]

Origins of the office

[edit]

Historically, under the 1809 Instrument of Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs (the "second excellency" and to date the only formal "minister" save for the Prime Minister, the other cabinet members' formal title being Councillor of State for... etc) was to function as acting Prime Minister should the Prime Minister not be able not to perform his duties. With the enactment of the 1974 Instrument of Government and the inauguration of Thorbjörn Fälldin's three-party cabinet in 1976, Per Ahlmark was formally sworn in as the first to hold the office of Deputy Prime Minister.

Palme assassination

[edit]

In 1986 Deputy Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson became acting Prime Minister for the transitional cabinet from March 1 to March 12, upon the assassination of Olof Palme, the only time the death of the Prime Minister has caused the Deputy Prime Minister to temporarily assume the office. Carlsson subsequently received the task of forming a new cabinet from the Speaker of the Riksdag. The cabinet was approved by the Riksdag on March 12, 1986, effectively reappointing most cabinet members in their previous offices.

Role in coalition governments

[edit]

The role and position of a Deputy Prime Minister may vary. In the five last coalition cabinets, Fälldin III, Bildt and Reinfeldt I and II, and Löfven, the Deputy Prime Minister was the head of the second-largest coalition partner (Liberals in Fälldin III, Bildt and Reinfeldt II, Centre in Reinfeldt I, Green in Löfven). In the governments Fälldin I and II, however, the Deputy Prime Ministership belonged to the Liberal Party despite the fact that it was the smallest of the three members. The reason for this might be ascribed to an unwillingness on behalf of the Centre and Liberals to give this position to the Moderates, due to ideological differences. In all of these governments, however, the Deputy Prime Minister also had a regular Cabinet portfolio.

In July 2015, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister was the subject of some political debate. Following a brief illness of the social democratic Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, the Prime Minister's office revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister Åsa Romson of the Green Party, although named Vice statsminister ("Vice Prime Minister") when the cabinet took office in October 2014, was in fact not expected to temporarily assume the duties of the Prime Minister as Statsministerns ställföreträdare ("Deputy of the Prime Minister") as stated in the Instrument of Government, instead yielding to the most senior minister of the cabinet. Effectively this made the social democratic then-Foreign Minister Margot Wallström the actual deputy of the Prime Minister, due to seniority rather than appointment. It also rendered the title of Vice statsminister an honorary title, for the most senior member of the party functioning as junior partner in the governing coalition, rather than an actual function.[1]

Role in one-party governments

[edit]

The situation is different in the one-party governments that have existed since the position of Deputy Prime Minister was introduced in 1976, namely the Liberal Ullsten government and the Social Democratic governments Palme II, Carlsson I-III and Persson. While Mona Sahlin might well have been described as something of a "successor-in-waiting" (even if she ultimately did not succeed Ingvar Carlsson to the Premiership), the other Deputy Prime Ministers have tended to be older and experienced politicians who have often been in charge of coordinating the work of the Government and may also have been in charge of some policy areas of their own which were not substantial enough to warrant a full-time Cabinet position, such as Bo Ringholm, who was Minister of Sport concurrently with being Deputy Prime Minister.

[edit]

According to 10 § Chapter 6 of the Instrument of Government, the Prime Minister may appoint a deputy who assumes the duties of the Prime Minister in case the latter is for some reason prevented from performing their duties. If such a deputy has not been appointed or if the appointed deputy is prevented from performing their duties, the minister who has served for the longest period of time assumes the office. If two or more ministers have served for an equal amount of time, seniority decides.[2]

List of officeholders

[edit]
Color key

  Independent   Social Democrats   Moderate   Centre   Left   Liberals   Christian Democrats   Green   Sweden Democrats

№ Deputy Prime Minister Position Took office Left office Duration Party Prime Minister
–
Gunnar Sträng
Gunnar Sträng
(1906–1992)
Acting		Minister for Finance1 January 19758 October 19761 year, 281 daysSocial DemocratsOlof Palme (S/SAP)
1
Per Ahlmark
Per Ahlmark
(1939–2018)		Minister for Employment8 October 19767 March 19781 year, 150 daysLiberalsThorbjörn Fälldin (C)
2
Ola Ullsten
Ola Ullsten
(1931–2018)		Minister for Employment,
Minister for International
Development Cooperation		7 March 197818 October 1978225 daysLiberalsThorbjörn Fälldin (C)
–
Sven Romanus
Sven Romanus
(1906–2005)
Acting		Minister for Justice18 October 197812 October 1979359 daysIndependentOla Ullsten (L)
–
Ingemar Mundebo
Ingemar Mundebo
(1930–2018)
Acting		Minister for Justice12 October 19791 August 1980294 daysLiberalsThorbjörn Fälldin (C)
(2)
Ola Ullsten
Ola Ullsten
(1931–2018)		Minister for Foreign Affairs1 August 19808 October 19822 years, 68 daysLiberalsThorbjörn Fälldin (C)
3
Ingvar Carlsson
Ingvar Carlsson
(born 1934)		Minister for the Environment8 October 198228 February 19863 years, 143 daysSocial DemocratsOlof Palme (S/SAP)
–
Svante Lundkvist
Svante Lundkvist
(1919–1991)
Acting		Minister for Agriculture28 February 19869 October 1986223 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
–
Kjell-Olof Feldt
Kjell-Olof Feldt
(born 1931)
Acting		Minister for Finance9 October 198616 February 19903 years, 130 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
–
Lena Hjelm-Wallén
Lena Hjelm-Wallén
(born 1943)
Acting		Minister for International
Development Cooperation		16 February 199027 February 199011 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
4
Odd Engström
Odd Engström
(1941–1998)		–27 February 19904 October 19911 year, 219 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
5
Bengt Westerberg
Bengt Westerberg
(born 1943)		Minister for Health and Social Affairs4 October 19917 October 19943 years, 3 daysLiberalsCarl Bildt (M)
6
Mona Sahlin
Mona Sahlin
(born 1957)		Minister for Gender Equality7 October 199416 November 19951 year, 40 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
7
Lena Hjelm-Wallén
Lena Hjelm-Wallén
(born 1943)		Minister for Foreign Affairs
(1994–1998)		16 November 199521 October 20026 years, 339 daysSocial DemocratsIngvar Carlsson (S/SAP)
(1995 – 1996)
Göran Persson (S/SAP)
(1996 – 2002)
8
Margareta Winberg
Margareta Winberg
(born 1943)		Minister for Gender Equality21 October 200231 October 20031 year, 10 daysSocial DemocratsGöran Persson (S/SAP)
–
Marita Ulvskog
Marita Ulvskog
(born 1951)
Acting		Minister for Culture and Sports31 October 20031 June 2004214 daysSocial DemocratsGöran Persson (S/SAP)
9
Lars Engqvist
Lars Engqvist
(born 1945)		Minister for Health and Social Affairs1 June 20041 October 2004122 daysSocial DemocratsGöran Persson (S/SAP)
–
Laila Freivalds
Laila Freivalds
(born 1942)
Acting		Minister for Foreign Affairs1 October 20041 November 200431 daysSocial DemocratsGöran Persson (S/SAP)
10
Bo Ringholm
Bo Ringholm
(born 1942)		Minister for European Union Affairs1 November 20046 October 20061 year, 339 daysSocial DemocratsGöran Persson (S/SAP)
11
Maud Olofsson
Maud Olofsson
(born 1955)		Minister for Enterprise and Energy6 October 20065 October 20103 years, 364 daysCentreFredrik Reinfeldt (M)
12
Jan Björklund
Jan Björklund
(born 1962)		Minister for Education5 October 20103 October 20143 years, 363 daysLiberalsFredrik Reinfeldt (M)
–
Margot Wallström
Margot Wallström
(born 1954)
Acting		Minister for Foreign Affairs3 October 201410 September 20194 years, 342 daysSocial DemocratsStefan Löfven (S/SAP)
–
Morgan Johansson
Morgan Johansson
(born 1970)
Acting		Minister for Justice (2014–2022)
Minister for Migration (2019–2021)
Minister of the Interior (2021–2022)		10 September 201918 October 20223 years, 38 daysSocial DemocratsStefan Löfven (S/SAP)
(2019 – 2021)
Magdalena Andersson (S/SAP)
(2021 – 2022)
13
Ebba Busch
Ebba Busch
(born 1987)		Minister for Energy, Business, Industry and Innovation18 October 2022Incumbent2 years, 43 daysChristian DemocratsUlf Kristersson (M)

List of people with the honorary title of "deputy prime minister"

[edit]

When Stefan Löfven became Prime Minister of Sweden he appointed a cabinet minister with the honorary title of "deputy prime minister", despite not being the designated stand-in should he not be able to carry out his duties as Prime Minister. The honorary title was awarded to one of the two spokespersons of the Green Party, the junior coalition partner of his cabinet. With Magdalena Anderssons appointment as Prime Minister and the withdrawal of the Green Party from the government, this system ceased.

№ Deputy Prime Minister Position Took office Left office Duration Party Prime Minister
Åsa Romson
Åsa Romson
(born 1972)		Minister for the Environment3 October 201425 May 20161 year, 235 daysGreenStefan Löfven (S/SAP)
Isabella Lövin
Isabella Lövin
(born 1963)		Minister for International Development Cooperation (2016–2019)
Minister for the Climate (2016–2021)
Minister for the Environment (2019–2021)		25 May 20165 February 20214 years, 256 daysGreenStefan Löfven (S/SAP)
Per Bolund
Per Bolund
(born 1971)		Minister for the Environment
Minister for the Climate		5 February 202130 November 2021298 daysGreenStefan Löfven (S/SAP)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Green leader wouldn't replace PM in crisis". The Local. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. ^ Riksdagsförvaltningen. "Kungörelse (1974:152) om beslutad ny regeringsform Svensk författningssamling 1974:1974:152 t.o.m. SFS 2018:1903 - Riksdagen". www.riksdagen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_Sweden&oldid=1254291781"