| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form:
Sweden
local long form:
Konungariket Sverige
local short form:
Sverige
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| Government type: |
constitutional monarchy
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| 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
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| Independence: |
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
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| National holiday: |
Flag Day, 6 June
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| Constitution: |
1 January 1975
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| Legal system: |
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
|
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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| 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
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| 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
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)
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| 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]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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)
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