1. The 5 GOLDEN RULES…...
 Do not interfere during the report.
 Refrain from talking with your seatmates.
 Sharpen your ear.
 Observe silence.
 Strictly…….. No questions will be entertained during
the report…
and even “AFTER”
the report…….

4.  During the seventh and eighth centuries, the Swedes
were merchant seamen well known for their far-
reaching trade.
 In the ninth century, Nordic Vikings raided and
ravaged the European continent as far as the Black and
Caspian Seas.
 During the 11th and 12th centuries, Sweden gradually
became a unified Christian kingdom that later
included Finland.

5.  The union's final disintegration in the early 16th
century brought on a long-lived rivalry between
Norway and Denmark on one side and Sweden and
Finland on the other.
 In the 16th century, Gustav Vasa fought for an
independent Sweden, crushing an attempt to restore
the Kalmar Union and laying the foundation for
modern Sweden and he broke with the Catholic
Church and established the Reformation.

6.  During the 17th century, after winning wars against
Denmark, Russia, and Poland, Sweden-Finland (with
scarcely more than 1 million inhabitants) emerged as a
great power
 Sweden suffered further territorial losses during the
Napoleonic wars and was forced to cede Finland to
Russia in 1809.

8.  Sweden was a largely impoverished agrarian society
until it was transformed into a center of heavy
industry in the 19th and 20th centuries.
 Sweden’s transformation has been helped by several
factors, including avoiding involvement in the 20th
century’s many wars and the country’s long history of
entrepreneurialism.
 Economists and politicians have long pointed to
Sweden as a role model because of its successful
combination of generous welfare benefits and high-
tech capitalism.

9.  Sweden is very much oriented towards overseas trade.
 The Swedish economy is built on rich reserves of iron
ore and timber, and plentiful hydroelectric power.
 The main industrial sectors are forestry, telecoms, and
the automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
 The private sector is strong and growing, supported by
a highly educated and productive workforce.

10.  Sweden's economy grew 1.2 percent in the fourth
quarter of 2010 compared to the previous three-month
period and jumped 7.3 percent year-on-year, beating
analyst expectations.
 The 7.3-percent year-on-year quarterly jump is the
highest on record since the statistics agency started
recording quarterly data in 1970.
 Sweden, which emerged from recession in the second
quarter of 2009 and saw growth quickly pick up in the
first quarter of 2010

11.  Today the country is among the world’s 15 richest in
terms of GDP per capita, a status helped by high levels
of education and a skilled workforce, excellent internal
and external communications, and one of the highest
levels of internet access.
 Sweden is part of the European Union but maintains
its own currency, the krona (crown)

14.  Type: Constitutional monarchy.
 Constitution: The Swedish Constitution
 Based on the following:
 the Instrument of Government (originally dating from
June 6, 1809),
 the Act of Succession (1810)
 the Freedom of the Press Act (1949)
 Riksdag Act.

15.  Monarch
 head of state
 Prime Minister
 head of government
 Cabinet
 responsible to Parliament.

16.  84 district courts
 10 appeal courts
 two superior courts
Subdivisions: 21 counties, 18 county councils, 290
municipalities, and two regions.

17.  Riksdag
-unicameral Parliament
-349 members
-the supreme decision-making assembly in our
country
-passes laws in Sweden
-appoints a prime minister

18.  1435
 representatives of different social groups were called to a
meeting in the town of Arboga to discuss and determine
affairs affecting the country as a whole.
 It is referred as Sweden's first parliament.
 1527 and later 1544 King Gustav Vasa's two assemblies in
Västerås that representatives of all four estates - the
Nobility, the Clergy, the Burghers and the Peasantry -
were called on to participate. The term "Riksdag" was
first used in the 1540s.

19.  17th century
 the establishment of clearer parliamentary
procedures. The committee organization began
to emerge and written regulations on the work
of the Riksdag were drawn up.
 In the late 17th century King Karl XI gained
increasing power which meant that the
Riksdag's position was weakened.

20.  1809
 a new Instrument of Government was adopted in
Sweden. It set out how the power was to be divided
between the Riksdag and the King.
 The new Instrument of Government remained in force
until 1974.
 The first Riksdag Act - which is a law setting out the
procedures for the work of the Riksdag -
was introduced in 1810.

21. The bicameral Riksdag
 In 1865 the parliament of the four estates was
abolished and replaced by a bicameral (two-chamber)
system.
 Elections to the Second Chamber were only open to
men, and in order to vote it was necessary to meet
certain economic criteria such as ownership of real
estate or payment of tax on an annual taxable income.

22.  In 1909 a reform was passed in the Riksdag giving
Swedish men the right to vote in elections to the
Second Chamber
 In 1921 a universal and equal franchise was introduced
for men and women alike, and the Riksdag finally
achieved a system of democratic representation for all
citizens.
 This means that the government requires the Riksdag's
confidence and support for all major decisions.

23. The unicameral Riksdag
 1971 the bicameral system was abolished and a single
chamber with 350 members was introduced.
 The system of different committees for legislative and
budgetary matters was abandoned and 16 committees
for different specialised areas were established instead.

24.  1974, Sweden adopted a new Instrument of
Government and a new Riksdag Act.
 The principles of parliamentarianism were
incorporated into the constitution and the Speaker
acquired a central role in the formation of a new
government after an election.

25.  Four-year electoral period
Two important decisions were taken in 1994
 extend the electoral period from three to four
years and the second to make the budget
procedure more efficient.
 the budget year now coincides with the calendar
year and that the Budget Bill is presented and
dealt with during the autumn.

26. FUNCTIONS OF RIKSDAG
 Adopts laws
 Determines the central government
budget
 Examines the work of the Government
 Works with EU-related matters
 Foreign policy

27.  Proposals for new laws, or amendments to laws
that are already in force, normally come from the
Government in the form of a Government bill.
 All legislative proposals are first considered by a
committee before the Riksdag takes a decision.
 For the proposal to be adopted, a majority of
members of the Riksdag must vote in favour of it.
The Riksdag communicates its decision to the
Government, which issues the new law and
ensures that it is implemented in the way intended
by the Riksdag.

28.  The Riksdag is responsible for determining central
government expenditure and revenue.
 It does this after the Government has submitted
proposals in the Budget Bill as to how the money at the
disposal of the central government sector should be
used.
 Once the Riksdag has taken a decision on the central
government budget, the Government is responsible for
the budget and for implementing the Riksdag's
decision.

29.  The members of the Riksdag have the opportunity to
address questions to Government ministers.
 The Committee on the Constitution checks that the
Government acts in compliance with existing
regulations.
 If the Riksdag no longer has confidence in a minister
or in the prime minister it can decide to make a
declaration of no confidence.
 Members of the public who are dissatisfied with a
public agency's handling of a matter can lodge a
complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsmen.

30.  The Government represents Sweden in the EU.
 The Government cannot promote any EU policies
without the support of the Riksdag.
 The Riksdag's and Government's work with EU
issues is carried out in various forums including
the Chamber of the Riksdag, the parliamentary
committees and the Committee on EU Affairs.

31.  The Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs is a body
for consultation on foreign affairs between the
Government and the Riksdag.
 Areas of foreign policy that are determined by the
Riksdag include what countries Sweden is to
deploy peacekeeping forces to and what
proportion of our gross national income is to be
spent on development assistance.

32.  Swedish Parliament are held every fourth year on
the third Sunday in September.
 A party must receive at least 4% of the votes in the
entire country or 12% in a single electoral district
to qualify for any seats in Parliament.

33. Democratic Party (SDP)
 It derives much of its power from strong links with
the National Swedish Confederation of Trade
Unions (LO), which represents blue-collar
workers.
 The party program combines a commitment to
social welfare programs and government direction
of the economy.

34. Moderate Party
 emphasizes personal freedom, free enterprise, and
reduction of the public-sector growth rate, while still
supporting most of the social benefits introduced
since the 1930s.
 supports a strong military and Sweden's membership
in the EU
 Its voter base is urban business people and
professionals, but the party also attracts young voters,
main-street shop owners, and, some blue-collar
workers

35. The Green Party
 left-leaning, environmentalist party that attracts
young people
 strongly support greater public transportation and
environmental taxation, and replacing nuclear energy
in Sweden with alternative, environmentally friendly
energy sources.

36. The Liberal Party
 Party's platform is "social responsibility without
socialism," which includes a commitment to a free-
market economy combined with comprehensive
Swedish social welfare programs
 centered in educated, middle-class voters, and is pro-
EU.

37. The Center Party
 maintains close ties to rural Sweden
 The main priorities of the party include providing
a sound economic climate for business and job
creation, rural development, climate change and
environmental concerns, and health and welfare
issues.

38. The Sweden Democrats
 It is a nationalist, right-wing party
 Its main priority is to protect Swedish
culture and values, mostly by reducing
immigration to Sweden

39. The Left Party
 formerly the Communist Party, focuses on feminist
issues, employment in the public sector, and the
environment.
 It opposes privatization, cuts in public expenditure,
Swedish participation in NATO activities, and EU
membership
 Its voter base consists mainly of young people, public
sector employees, feminists, journalists, and former
social democrats.

40. The Christian Democrat Party
 is conservative and “value-oriented”
 Its voter base is primarily among members of
conservative churches and rural populations. Christian
Democrats seek government support for families and
better ethical practices to improve care for the elderly.

41. Carl XVI
Gustaf

42. Fredrik
Reinfeldt

43. Cabinet
Ministers

44. TACK SA
MYCKET!!!