Short facts about the government of Sweden

Country name:

conventional long form:  Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form:  Sweden local long form:  Konungariket Sverige local short form:  Sverige

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Stockholm

Administrative divisions:

21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands

Independence:

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 6 June

Constitution:

1 January 1975

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:  King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977) head of government:  Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) cabinet:  Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections:  the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by the Parliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results:  Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister with 131 out of 349 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections:  last held 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002) election results:  percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 36.5%, Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party - Social Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42, Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Lennart DALEUS]; Christian Democratic Party [Alf SVENSSON]; Communist Workers' Party [Rolf HAGEL]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]; Left Party or VP (formerly Communist) [Gudrun SCHYMAN]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Bo LUNDGREN]; New Democracy Party [Vivianne FRANZEN]; Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Jan ELIASSON chancery:  1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 telephone:  [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX:  [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general:  Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy:  Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address:  American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone:  [46] (8) 783 53 00 FAX:  [46] (8) 661 19 64

Flag description:

blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Source: World Factbook