This article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Sweden. It is limited to

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and

centrist Centrism is a political outlook or position involving acceptance or support of a balance of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy while opposing political changes that would result in a significant shift of society strongly to Left-w ...

parties A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this article it isn't necessary for parties to have labelled themselves as a liberal party.

Background

Liberalism has been a major force in Sweden since the 19th century. And even before then, personalities like

Anders Chydenius Anders Chydenius (; 26 February 1729 – 1 February 1803) was a Swedish-Finnish Lutheran priest and a member of the Swedish Riksdag, and is known as the leading classical liberal of Nordic history. Born in Sotkamo, Finland (then part of Swed ...

(1729 – 1803), promoted the ideals of liberalism. Nowadays The Liberals (''Liberalerna'', member of LI and ALDE) calls itself a centre-right liberal party. The Centre Party (''Centerpartiet'', member of LI and ALDE) is a historically agrarian party that has gradually developed into a liberal party. Since their party congress in 2013, they define themselves as a green, liberal party.https://www.centerpartiet.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Här-kan-du-läsa-hela-idéprogrammet.pdf

History

From People's Party to The Liberals

*1895: The liberal wing of the Old Party of the Gentry (' 'Gamla Lantmannapartiet'') seceded and formed the People's Party (''Folkpartiet'') *1900: The liberals are reorganised into the

Liberal Coalition Party The Liberal Party of Sweden ( sv, Sveriges Liberala Parti) was a political party in Sweden. It was formed in 1923 by the anti-prohibition minority of the Free-minded National Association as a consequence of the split over the issue on alcohol prohi ...

/ Freeminded National Association (''Liberala Samlingspartiet/Frisinnade Landsföreningen'') *1922: The party fell apart into the Freeminded People's Party/Freeminded National Association (''Frisinnade Folkpartiet/Frisinnade Landsföreningen'') and the ⇒ Liberal Party of Sweden *1934: Both parties re-united into the People's Party (''Folkpartiet'') *1990: The party is renamed People's Party - The Liberals (''Folkpartiet Liberalerna'') *2015: The party shortened its name to The Liberals (''Liberalerna'').

Liberal Party of Sweden

*1922: The Liberal Coalition Party fell apart into the ⇒ Freeminded People's Party and the

Liberal Party of Sweden The Liberal Party of Sweden ( sv, Sveriges Liberala Parti) was a political party in Sweden. It was formed in 1923 by the anti-prohibition minority of the Free-minded National Association as a consequence of the split over the issue on alcohol prohib ...

(''Sveriges Liberala Parti'') *1934: Both parties re-united into the ⇒ People's Party

Centre Party

*1958: The agrarian Rural Party - Farmers' League (''Landbygdspartiet Bondeförbundet'') renamed itself into Centre Party (''Centerpartiet'') and evolved gradually from an agrarian into a more liberal direction.

Liberal leaders

*Folkpartiet/Liberalerna:

Bertil Ohlin Bertil Gotthard Ohlin () (23 April 1899 – 3 August 1979) was a Swedish economist and politician. He was a professor of economics at the Stockholm School of Economics from 1929 to 1965. He was also leader of the People's Party, a social-libe ...

- Gunnar Helén -

Per Ahlmark Per Axel Ahlmark (15 January 1939 – 8 June 2018) was a Swedish politician and writer. He was the leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1975 to 1978, and Minister for Employment and Deputy Prime Minister in the Swedish government from 1976 ...

- Ola Ullsten -

Bengt Westerberg Bengt Carl Gustaf Westerberg (born 23 August 1943) is a Swedish politician. He was leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1983 to 1995, member of the Riksdag from 1984 to 1994 and Minister for Social Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister 1991 ...

Maria Leissner Maria Leissner (born ) is a Swedish politician and former party leader of the Swedish Liberal People's Party (1995–97). Between 2000 and 2004 she was Sweden's ambassador to Guatemala. In January 2007 she was appointed Ambassador-at-large fo ...

- Lars Leijonborg -

Jan Björklund Jan Arne Björklund (born 18 April 1962) is a Swedish Liberal politician. He was member of the Riksdag from 2006 to 2019, representing Stockholm County, and served as leader of the Liberals from 2007 to 2019. Björklund served as Minister for ...

- Nyamko Sabuni *Centerpartiet:

Thorbjörn Fälldin Nils Olof Thorbjörn Fälldin (24 April 1926 – 23 July 2016) was a Swedish politician. He was Prime Minister of Sweden in three non-consecutive cabinets from 1976 to 1982, and leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 1971 to 1985. On his ...

Maud Olofsson Maud Elisabeth Olofsson (born ''Olsson'', 9 August 1955) is a former Swedish politician who was the leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 2001 to 2011, Minister for Enterprise and Energy from 2006 to 2011 and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden ...

Annie Lööf Annie Marie Therése Lööf (, ; born 16 July 1983) is a Swedish politician and lawyer. She has been a Member of the Riksdag, representing her home constituency of Jönköping County, since 2006, and leader of the Centre Party since 2011. Lö ...

Liberal thinkers

In the

Contributions to liberal theory Contribution or Contribute may refer to: * ''Contribution'' (album), by Mica Paris (1990) ** "Contribution" (song), title song from the album *Contribution (law), an agreement between defendants in a suit to apportion liability *Contributions, a ...

the following Swedish thinkers are included: *

(1729–1803) * Ivan Bratt (1878–1956) *

(1899–1979)

References

Sweden Politics of Sweden Sweden {{liberal-stub