Liberal People's Party (Sweden) - History

History

• 1809: The first liberal party is formed after a coup d'état ends 20 years of royal autocracy under the Union and Security Act; it is possibly the first party in the world to use the word "liberal" in its name.
• 1902: Free-minded National Association is formed as the first liberal party with a national grassroots organisation. It is heavily reliant on the "free religious" church movement.
• 1923: "Frisinnade Landsföreningen" splits over alcohol prohibition; the anti-ban minority forms Liberal Party of Sweden. "Frisinnade Landsföreningen" heads several governments during the following years.
• 1934: The parties reconcile and form "Folkpartiet" (The People's Party), i.e. the party in its present form.
• 1939–45: Partakes in a wartime coalition government comprising all parties except the communists. Sweden sticks to neutrality during the second world war.
• 1976: Enters a three-party government ending 44 years of Social Democratic Party rule (excepting the wartime emergency grand coalition).
• 1978: The Liberal Party forms a short-lived minority government by itself, with chairperson Ola Ullsten as prime minister. Hans Blix, of later Iraq-war fame, is foreign minister.
• 1979: A new attempt at a three-party coalition is made.
• 1980–82: Forms a two-party coalition government with the Centre party.
• 1990: Adds "Liberalerna" (The Liberals) to its name.
• 1991–94: Part of four-party coalition government under Moderate Party leader Carl Bildt.
• 2002: More than doubles vote share and comes close to a second place in elections; party leader Lars Leijonborg fails to unite a green-liberal four-party coalition government with passive Moderate support.
• 2006-: Part of a four-party coalition government under Moderate Party leader Fredrik Reinfeldt.