Sweden and Swedish News

Country Profile
Sweden officially the Kingdom of Sweden is a Country in Northern Europe.Sweden is the 3rd largest country in the EU by Area(Russia and Spain being the other two) 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq miles).Sweden has a Low Population Density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre (54 /sq mi) with the population mostly concentrated to the southern half of the country. Also 85% of the population live in Urban Areas.
Sweden is divided into 21 Counties and each county has a Administrative Board Headed by the Governor appointed for a term of six years.

Capital                                 Stockholm
Currency                              Swedish Krona
Official Language                  Swedish
Population                            9.4 Million(2011 Estimate)

ABBA,a Pop/Rock Group formed in Stockholm in 1972,comprising Agnetha Faltskog,Benny Andersson,Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad was one of the first internationally well-known popular music bands from Sweden topping the charts worldwide from 1972 to 1982.

Big Companies Registered in Sweden
1)AB Volvo builder of Commercial Vehicles including Trucks,Buses and Construction Equipment
2) Ericsson provider of Telecommunication and Data Communication Systems and is the world's largest mobile telecommunications equipment vendor with a market share of 35%
3)Atlas Copco Manufactures Industrial Tooling and Equipment
4)SKF Manufactures Bearings, Seals, Lubrication and Lubrication Systems
5)Sandvik is an Engineering Group in Tooling, Materials Technology, Mining and Construction

History
Sweden remained officially neutral during World War I(July 1914 - Nov 1918)between Allies(UK,France and Russia) and Central Powers(Austria,Hungary,Germany,Turkey and Bulgaria) and World War II(Sep 1939 - Sep 1945),between Allies(France,Poland,UK,Soviet Union,USA,China) and Axis(Germany,Italy, Japan,Hungary,Romania,Bulgaria and Yugoslavia)although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed(supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war).

Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside NATO or Warsaw Pact Membership during the Cold War(1945-91), but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments.



Politics and Government
Sweden is a Parliamentary Representative Democratic Constitutional Monarchy.

Prime Minister of Sweden
Executive Power  is exercised by the government, led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is first appointed by the Speaker of Parliament and then confirmed by Parliament. The Monarch plays no part in this process.The executive authority of the government is vested in the cabinet, which consists of a PM and about 22 Ministers who run the Govt.. The Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister without any confirmation of the Parliament.

John Fredrik Reinfeldt is the 32nd and Current Prime Minister of Sweden in office from Oct 06,2006

Rikstag(Parliament of Sweden)

 

Legislative Power  is vested in both the Govt. and Parliament, elected within a Multi Party System.
The Unicameral Rikstag(Parliament of Sweden) has 349 members elected every 4 years.
The Judiciary is independent, appointed by the Govt.

Monarch of Sweden

The Swedish Monarchs have been of the House of Bernadotte since 1818, based on the Swedish Act of Succession of 1810

 

King Carl XVI Gustaf of the House of Bernadotte became king in 1973. His authority is only Formal, Symbolic, and Representational.

Heiress Apparent to the throne is Crown Princess Victoria  since 1980.