Moderata samlingspartiet

The Moderate Coalition Party or Moderata samlingspartiet is a liberal-conservative is a political party in Sweden. 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 they where known under the name "Allmänna valmansförbundet" or the "Public election alliance". During 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 "Höger partiet" or the "Right-wing party" which had been in use for a number of decades.

In the 1970s, under party leader Gösta Bohman[?], the traditional conservative policies had to gave way for more liberal policies especially in the economic field. This resulted in a successive upswing in the elections and Gösta Bohman became Minister of Economy in 1976. Roughly a decade later in 1991, a Moderate led government under Carl Bildt as Prime Minister had made its way to power.

The 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. The party also supports a strong defense and Sweden's membership in the European Union. Its voter base is urban business people and professionals, but the party also attracts young voters, main-street shop owners, and, to a modest extent, blue-collar workers.

Party leaders

• Gösta Bohman[?] (1970s-1980s)
• Ulf Adelson[?] (1980s-1986)
• Carl Bildt (1986-1999)
• Bo Lundgren (1999-present)

See also: Prime Minister of Sweden, Government of Sweden, Parliament of Sweden, Elections in Sweden

References

• United States Department of State - Sweden (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm)