Sweden » Politics

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with King Carl XVI Gustaf as Sweden’s head of state. He has been the head of the state since 1973. King is the head of the state in Sweden and has no political powers. King has only ceremonial duties to perform. The monarchy is hereditary. The cabinet with its 22 ministers along with the prime minister have the executive authority to run the government and its departments.

The official Swedish term for Swedish parliament is ‘Riksdag’. The term has been used since the middle ages and means legislative assembly. The parliament has the legislative power and the Government implements its decisions, make the laws and proposals. Parliamentary elections in Sweden are held after four years. The King, the Parliament and the Cabinet all sit in Stockholm which is the capital of Sweden. Sweden is governed under a 1975 constitution. The head of government is the Prime Minister, elected by the Parliament following legislative elections. John Fredrik Reinfeldt leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party is the current Prime Minister of Sweden who began his official duties on October 5, 2006. He is the third youngest person to become Prime Minister of Sweden at the age of 41. Reinfeldt’s Deputy Prime Minister is Maud Olofsson. All cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister. The country’s judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen). Judiciary in Sweden is totally independent where judges are appointed by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.