Sweden/Government

Data code: SW

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Stockholm

Administrative divisions: 21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge?, Dalarnas?, Gavleborg?s, Gotlands, Halland?s, Jamtland?s, Jonkoping?s, Kalmar?, Kronoberg?s, Norrbotten?s, Orebro?, Ostergotlands, Skane?, Sodermanland?s, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmland?s, Vasterbotten?s, Vasternorrland?s, Vastmanland?s, [Vastra Gotaland]?s

Independence: 6 June 1523 ([Gustav Vasa]? elected king)

National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June

Constitution: 1 January 1975

Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)

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]?

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?, MONUC?, NAM? (guest), NC?, NEA?, NIB?, NSG?, OAS? (observer), OECD?, OPCW?, OSCE?, PCA?, PFP?, UN, UNCTAD?, UNESCO, UNHCR?, UNIDO?, UNIKOM?, UNMIBH?, UNMIK?, UNMOGIP?, UNMOP?, UNOMIG?, UNTAET?, UNTSO?, UPU, WEU? (observer), WFTU?, WHO?, WIPO, WMO?, WTrO?, ZC?

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador [Rolf Ekeus]?
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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr.
embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 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

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)