Moderate Party

The Moderate Party (Moderata samlingspartiet, commonly referred to as Moderaterna) is a liberal conservative political party in Sweden. It is a member of the International Democrat Union and European People's Party.

The party was founded as a coalition of conservative members of parliament in the Swedish Riksdag during the second half of the 19th century. In elections, it was for long known under the name Allmänna valmansförbundet ("the General Electoral Union"). During the first half of the 20th century, the loose coalition was organized into a proper party, and in the late 1960s the present name was adopted, replacing Högerpartiet (the "Right-wing party") which had been in use for a number of decades.

Political position

In the 1970s, under party leader Gösta Bohman, traditional conservative policies gave way to more liberal policies, especially in the field of economics. This resulted in an increase in electoral support, and Gösta Bohman became Minister of Economy in 1976. In 1991, a Moderate-led government under Carl Bildt as Prime Minister made its way to power.

The party emphasizes personal freedom, free markets, privatization and reduction of the public-sector growth rate, while still supporting most of the social benefits introduced since the 1930s. The party also supports a strong defense and Sweden's membership of the European Union. Its voter base is urban business people and professionals, but the party also attracts young voters, entrepreneurs, and, to a modest extent, blue-collar workers.

Voter base

Party leaders

• Fredrik Östberg (1904–1905)
• Axel Svedelius (1905–1906)
• Hugo Tamm (1907+)
• Fredrik Östberg (1908–1912)
• Arvid Lindman (1912–1917)
• Olof Jonsson i Hov (1917)
• Arvid Lindman (1917–1935)
• Gösta Bagge (1935–1944)
• Fritiof Domö (1944–1950)
• Jarl Hjalmarson (1950–1961)
• Gunnar Heckscher (1961–1965)
• Yngve Holmberg (1965–1970)
• Gösta Bohman (1970-1981)
• Ulf Adelsohn (1981-1986)
• Carl Bildt (1986-1999)
• Bo Lundgren (1999-2003)
• Fredrik Reinfeldt (2003-present)

See also

• Politics of Sweden
• Prime Minister of Sweden
• Government of Sweden
• Parliament of Sweden
• Elections in Sweden

References

• United States Department of State – Sweden

External links

• Moderata samlingspartiet – Official site
• The Swedish Parliament: The Moderate Party