View source for Liberals (Sweden)

{{redirect|Liberalerna|the political party in Åland|Liberals for Åland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = The Liberals
| logo             = Liberals (Sweden) logo.svg
| logo_size        = 75
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| chairperson      = [[Simona Mohamsson]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nyman |first1=Jenny |title=Mohamsson vald till ny L-ledare: ”Inte självklar” |url=https://www.svd.se/a/0VaEq6/simona-mohamsson-vald-till-ny-l-ledare |website=Svenska Dagbladet |access-date=24 June 2025 |language=sv |date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1934|08|05|df=y}}
| merger           = [[Free-minded National Association]]<br>[[Liberal Party of Sweden]]
| ideology         = [[Conservative liberalism]]
| headquarters     = [[Riksgatan]] 2, [[Stockholm]]
| international    = [[Liberal International]]
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Sweden
| native_name      = Liberalerna
| abbreviation     = L
| leader1_title    = Party secretary
| leader1_name     = Fredrik Brange
| leader2_title    = [[Parliamentary group leader]]
| leader2_name     = [[Lina Nordquist]]
| membership_year  = 2023
| womens_wing      = [[Liberala kvinnor]]
| membership       = {{decrease}} 9,799<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-10-13 |title=Medlemsras för Liberalerna – störst tapp bland riksdagspartierna |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/medlemsras-for-liberalerna-storst-tapp-bland-riksdagspartierna |access-date=2024-10-13 |work=SVT Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref>
| student_wing     = {{ill|Liberala studenter|sv|Liberala studenter}}
| youth_wing       = [[Liberal Youth of Sweden]]
| national         = 
| european         = [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]]
| europarl         = [[Renew Europe]]
| affiliation1_title = Nordic affiliation
| affiliation1     = [[Centre Group]]
| position         = [[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]]
| colours          = {{ublist
 | {{colour box|{{party color|Liberals (Sweden)}}|border=darkgray}} Blue
 | {{colour box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} White
}}
| seats1_title     = [[Riksdag]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}} <!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110857 -->
| seats2_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ep}} <!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110857 -->
| seats3_title     = [[County councils of Sweden|County councils]]<ref name="mandat2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.val.se/valresultat/riksdag-region-och-kommun/2022/radata-och-statistik.html#mandatfordelning|language=sv|website=Valmyndigheten|date=10 March 2024|access-date=2024-03-10|title=Rådata och statistik|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311071759/https://www.val.se/valresultat/riksdag-region-och-kommun/2022/radata-och-statistik.html#mandatfordelning|url-status=live}}</ref>
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|57|1720|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Municipal council (Sweden)|Municipal councils]]<ref name="mandat2022" />
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|509|12614|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
}}

'''The Liberals''' ({{langx|sv|Liberalerna}}, '''L'''), formerly known as the '''Liberal People's Party''' ({{langx|sv|Folkpartiet liberalerna}}) until 22 November 2015, is a [[conservative-liberal]]<ref name="Close2019">{{cite book |last=Close |first=Caroline |chapter=The liberal family ideology: Distinct, but diverse |editor1-last=van Haute |editor1-first=Emilie |editor2-last=Close |editor2-first=Caroline |title=Liberal Parties in Europe|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6zuIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA344 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=2019 |page=344 |isbn=978-1-351-24549-4}}</ref><ref name="Slomp2011">{{cite book|first=Hans|last=Slomp|date=26 September 2011|title=Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=433|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmfAPmwE6YYC&pg=PA433|access-date=25 September 2018|isbn=978-0-313-39182-8}}</ref> [[List of political parties in Sweden|political party in Sweden]]. The Liberals ideologically have shown a broad variety of liberal tendencies. Currently they are seen as following [[economic liberalism]]<ref name="heise">{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/tp/features/Trump-mahnt-Zollreziprozitaet-an-3990603.html|title=Trump mahnt Zollreziprozität an|publisher=[[Telepolis]]|first=Peter|last=Mühlbauer|year=2018|access-date=16 September 2018|language=de}}</ref><ref name="spiegel">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/wahl-in-schweden-diese-regierungsbildung-wird-kompliziert-a-1227279.html|title=Diese Regierungsbildung wird kompliziert|publisher=[[Der Spiegel]]|language=de|first=Claus|last=Hecking|year=2018|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910003423/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/wahl-in-schweden-diese-regierungsbildung-wird-kompliziert-a-1227279.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and have been described as being [[centre-right]].<ref name="SR" /><ref>{{cite web |date=9 July 2012 |title=Crisis, conservatism, and China: the centre-right jockeys for position |url=http://www.thelocal.se/41924/20120709/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712081248/http://www.thelocal.se/41924/20120709/ |archive-date=12 July 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012 |work=[[The Local]]}}</ref><ref name="Colomer2008">{{cite book |last=Colomer |first=Josep M. |author-link=Josep Colomer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TZF8AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA261 |title=Political Institutions in Europe |date=25 July 2008 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-134-07354-2 |page=261}}</ref> The party is a member of the [[Liberal International]] and [[Renew Europe]].

Historically, the party was positioned in the centre of the Swedish political landscape, willing to cooperate with both the political left and the right. It has since the leadership of [[Lars Leijonborg]] and [[Jan Björklund]] in the 2000s positioned itself more towards the right.<ref name="SR">{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2054&grupp=21389&artikel=5948695|title=The Liberal Party - Folkpartiet|newspaper=[[Sveriges Radio]]|date=27 August 2014|access-date=31 August 2014|archive-date=7 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907144510/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2054&grupp=21389&artikel=5948695|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DN">{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/folkpartiet-historia-och-ideologi/|title=Folkpartiet – historia och ideologi|newspaper=[[Dagens Nyheter]]|date=18 April 2011|language=sv|access-date=31 August 2014|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320035121/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/folkpartiet-historia-och-ideologi/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hennel |first=Lena |title=Alliansens ståndaktige soldat |url=http://www.svd.se/nyheter/valet2014/alliansregeringens-standaktige-soldat_3768706.svd |newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]] |date=23 July 2014 |language=sv |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-date=1 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801053545/http://www.svd.se/nyheter/valet2014/alliansregeringens-standaktige-soldat_3768706.svd |url-status=live}}</ref> It was a part of the [[Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]] centre-right coalition government led by [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]] from 2006 to 2014. The party's policies include action toward a free [[market economy]] and pushing for Sweden to join the [[Eurozone]], as well as investing in [[nuclear power]];<ref>{{cite news|date=16 February 2021|title=Liberalerna vill att kärnkraftsreaktorn Ringhals 1 återstartas|work=SVT Nyheter|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/liberalerna-vill-att-karnkraftsreaktorn-ringhals-1-aterstartas|access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> it also focuses on [[gender equality]], the [[State school|school system]] and [[Sustainable Development Goal 4|quality education]].<ref name="SR" /><ref name="DN" /> Many within the party have also argued in favour of [[Federal Europe|European federalism]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Debatt: Federalism gör EU demokratiskt och effektivt |url=https://www.europaportalen.se/2021/05/debatt-federalism-gor-eu-demokratiskt-och-effektivt |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.europaportalen.se |language=sv}}</ref>

In February 2019, following the conclusion of [[2018–19 Swedish government formation#Third Riksdag vote and re-election of Löfven|government negotiations]], Jan Björklund announced his intention to step down from the leadership position after 11 years at the helm of the Liberals. He was succeeded by [[Nyamko Sabuni]] in June 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liberalerna.se/nyheter/nyamko-sabuni-ny-partiledare-for-liberalerna/|title=Nyamko Sabuni ny partiledare för Liberalerna|date=28 June 2019|publisher=The Liberals|language=sv|access-date=2 July 2019|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702151643/https://www.liberalerna.se/nyheter/nyamko-sabuni-ny-partiledare-for-liberalerna/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[2021 Swedish government crisis]], the party withdrew its support for Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, and is now part of a right-wing government together with the [[Moderate Party]] and the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]], with [[Confidence and supply|support]] from the [[Sweden Democrats]], with [[Ulf Kristersson]] as their Prime Minister candidate. The party ultimately agreed to join the [[Tidö Agreement]] and form a coalition government with the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] and the [[Moderate Party]], which rely on support from the [[Sweden Democrats]].<ref name="www.euractiv.com">{{cite news |last1=Szumski |first1=Charles |title=Swedish Moderates strike government deal, far-right influence increases |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/short_news/swedish-moderates-strike-government-deal-far-right-influence-increases/ |work=www.euractiv.com |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=25 October 2022 |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023152731/https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/short_news/swedish-moderates-strike-government-deal-far-right-influence-increases/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

* '''1809''': The first [[liberalism|liberal]] party is formed after a [[Coup of 1809|coup d'état]] ends 20 years of royal autocracy under the [[Union and Security Act]]; it may be the first party in the world to use the word "liberal" in its name (This information needs to be verified with a citation. According to Bäck, Henry, Gissur Ó. Erlingsson and Torbjörn Larsson (2013.). ''Den svenska politiken: struktur, processer och resultat'' Stockholm: Liber, p.&nbsp;49 a Liberal party was formed in the Parliament in 1900).
* '''1902''': The [[Free-minded National Association]] ({{lang|sv|Frisinnade Landsföreningen}}) is formed as the first liberal party with a national [[grassroots]] organisation. It is heavily reliant on the [[free church]] movement (Protestants outside [[Church of Sweden]]).
* '''1910''': After women become eligible to be elected to municipal councils in Sweden, [[suffragette]] [[Valborg Olander]] is elected to the [[Falun]] city council for the Liberal Party.
* '''1923''': The [[Free-minded National Association]] splits over alcohol prohibition; the anti-ban minority forms the [[Liberal Party of Sweden]]. The Free-minded would come to lead several governments during the coming years.
* '''1934''': The parties reconcile and form the '''People's Party''' ({{lang|sv|Folkpartiet}}), i.e. the party in its present form.
* '''1939–45''': It takes part in a [[Hansson III Cabinet|wartime coalition government]] comprising all parties except the communists. Sweden remains neutral during the Second World War.
* '''1976''': It enters a [[Fälldin I Cabinet|three-party government]] ending 44 years of [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]] rule (excepting the wartime emergency grand coalition).
* '''1978''': The People's Party forms a [[Ullsten Cabinet|short-lived minority government]] by itself, with chairperson [[Ola Ullsten]] as prime minister. [[Hans Blix]] served as a foreign minister.
* '''1979''': A new attempt at a three-party coalition is made.
* '''1980–82''': It forms a [[Fälldin III Cabinet|two-party coalition government]] with the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]].
* '''1990''': It adds ''Liberal'' to its name to become the '''Liberal People's Party''' ({{lang|sv|Folkpartiet liberalerna}}).
* '''1991–94''': It forms part of a [[Bildt Cabinet|four-party centre-right coalition government]] under [[Moderate Party]] leader [[Carl Bildt]].
* '''2002''': It more than doubles its vote share and comes close to being the second-largest party in Riksdag elections; party leader [[Lars Leijonborg]] fails to unite a green-liberal four-party coalition government with passive Moderate support.
* '''2006:''' On 4 September 2006, only weeks before the [[2006 Swedish general election|2006 general election]], the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]] reported to the police that its internal network had been hacked into. It has been reported that members of the then-named Liberal People's Party had, in order to counter Social Democrat political propositions, on at least two occasions copied secret information that had not yet been officially released. On 5 September, Party Secretary Johan Jakobsson voluntarily chose to resign. Leading members of the party and its youth organisation both were placed under a police investigation, suspected for criminal activity. All members of the party were acquitted by the court; however, an official of the party's youth organisation, and one from the Social Democrats as well as a newspaper reporter, were found guilty.<ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4775&date=20060904 Liberal admits Social Democrat computer hack]'', ''The Local'', 4 September 2006 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925021327/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4775&date=20060904|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4781&date=20060904 Press officer behind Liberals' computer scandal]'', ''The Local'', 4 September 2006 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925024042/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4781&date=20060904|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4793&date=20060905 Police to question more Liberal activists]'', ''The Local'', 5 September 2006 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925031158/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4793&date=20060905|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4797&date=20060905 Liberal party secretary resigns]'', ''The Local'', 5 September 2006 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925023831/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4797&date=20060905|date=25 September 2006}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/ekot/artikel.asp?Artikel=1336437 Three convicted for people's party's computer infringement]'', [[Sveriges Radio]], 27 April 2007 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505223527/http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/ekot/artikel.asp?Artikel=1336437|date=5 May 2007}}</ref>
* '''2006–14''': It forms part of the [[Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]] four-party [[Reinfeldt Cabinet|centre-right coalition government]] under Moderate Party leader [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]].
* '''2015''': It changes its name from the Liberal People's Party to the '''Liberals''' ({{lang|sv|Liberalerna}}).
* '''2018''': It, together with the Centre Party, voted down a proposed Moderate-Christian Democrat government led by [[Ulf Kristersson]] after concerns that such a government would be dependent on the Sweden Democrats for support.
* '''2019''': It, together with the Centre Party, [[2018–19 Swedish government formation#Third Riksdag vote and re-election of Löfven|voted to tolerate a Social Democratic-Green government]] led by [[Stefan Löfven]] after coming up with a [[Löfven II Cabinet#January agreement|73-point agreement]]. [[Jan Björklund]] also announced he will step down as party leader and will not stand in the party's autumn leadership contest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Simon |title=Swedish Liberal leader to step down, casts shadow over govt's stability |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden-politics-liberals/swedish-liberal-leader-to-step-down-casts-shadow-over-govts-stability-idUSKCN1PV1Z4 |website=Reuters |date=6 February 2019 |access-date=6 February 2019}}</ref>
*'''2021''': After the [[2021 Swedish government crisis]], the party withdraw their support for Löfven, and now supports a centre-right government with [[Ulf Kristersson]] as Prime Minister.
*'''2022''': In the parliamentary elections in September the party won 4.61% of votes and 16 places in the Swedish Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valresultat 2022 |url=https://val.se/valresultat/riksdag-region-och-kommun/2022/valresultat.html |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=val.se |language=sv}}</ref>
*'''2022''': The party agrees to form a [[Kristersson Cabinet|coalition government]] with the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] and the [[Moderate Party]], with support from the [[Sweden Democrats]] as part of the [[Tidö Agreement]].<ref name="www.euractiv.com"/>
*'''2025:''' Party leader [[Johan Pehrson]] resigns as party leader following poor performances for the party in opinion polls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nyheter |first=S. V. T. |date=2025-04-28 |title=Johan Pehrson (L) avgår som partiledare för Liberalerna |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/johan-pehrson-l-avgar |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=SVT Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref>

==Ideology==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2018}}
{{Update section|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Peoples-Party-election-activists-Sweden-election-1940.jpg|thumb|People's Party election workers, [[1940 Swedish general election|1940 election]]]]Historically the party's official ideology was [[social liberalism]].<ref name="Annesley">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RefH7Ya5kU4C&pg=PT228|title=A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe|page=228|editor-last=Annesley|editor-first=Claire|date=11 January 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-203-40341-9|access-date=17 March 2016|archive-date=17 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117052734/https://books.google.com/books?id=RefH7Ya5kU4C&pg=PT228|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2018 the party has been defined as economically liberal and conservative-liberal.<ref name="heise"/><ref name="spiegel"/><ref name="Close2019"/>

While initially allied with the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] in the struggle for democracy (achieved in 1921) and social reform, the People's Party came to be part of the opposition from the thirties and onwards, opposing Social Democrat demands for [[nationalization]] of private businesses. It has stayed opposed to the Social Democrats ever since, often as the largest or second-largest party of the opposition block (called ''the non-socialists'' or "de borgerliga", approximately ''the bourgeois''), but often equally critical towards parties on the right. Over time, this has shifted towards a more clear-cut rightwing role. In the mid-nineties the party seemed to have ruled out the alternative of co-operation with the Social Democrats, focusing instead on bringing them down by strengthening the opposition.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Foreign policy is another high-profile issue. Always oriented towards the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]], the party was a strong opponent of [[communism]] and [[Nazism]] during the 20th century. While it was part of and supported the Swedish coalition government and its position of [[Neutral country|neutrality]] during World War II, the party advocated an active stance against the [[Soviet Union]] during the [[Cold War]]. The party (alongside [[Moderate Party|''Moderaterna'']]) actively supported the struggle of the [[Baltic states|Baltic peoples]] against the Soviet regime, whereas Social Democrats were wary of irritating the Soviets.<ref>Ett liv för Baltikum: journalistiska memoarer. - Stockholm: Timbro, 2002. - 351 s. : ill. - {{ISBN|91-7566-530-1}}</ref> As a consequence, it suffered several sharply worded rebukes from the often-ruling Social Democrats for endangering Swedish relations with the Soviet Union. It also criticised what it perceived as Social Democrat tolerance of left-wing dictatorships in the third world, and supported the United States in the [[Vietnam War]]. After the end of the Cold War, it became the first Swedish party to call for abandoning the country's traditional neutrality in favor of joining [[NATO]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

On the European level, the Liberal People's Party was strongly supportive of the emergence of the [[European Union]] and campaigned for Swedish entry into it (which happened in 1995). It also campaigned for joining the [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union]], but this was voted down by the Swedes in a [[referendum]] in 2003. The party has aimed to come across as the most "pro-European" party, trying to break what it refers to as the country's "isolationist" mindset. It is supportive of [[Enlargement of the European Union|EU enlargement]], including letting [[Turkey]] join on condition of democratic reforms, and also advocates further integrative measures, with some members, including the youth organization, openly calling for a single [[European Federation|federal European state]].<ref name=EU>{{Cite web |title=Liberalernas nya politik: Kämpa för EU-federation |url=https://www.europaportalen.se/notis/2022/11/liberalernas-nya-politik-kampa-eu-federation |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=www.europaportalen.se |language=sv |archive-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325122816/https://www.europaportalen.se/notis/2022/11/liberalernas-nya-politik-kampa-eu-federation |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003, the Liberal People's Party supported the invasion of [[Iraq]], but stopped short of demanding Swedish participation in the US-led "[[coalition of the willing]]". In recent years, and especially under the leadership of [[Jan Björklund]], the party has moved markedly towards [[conservative liberalism]] in its social attitudes, taking tougher stands on areas such as crime and punishment, law and order, school and discipline as well as strengthening its abolitionist policies on drugs. In 2008, the Liberal People's Party's support for a controversial [[National Defence Radio Establishment (Sweden)#Legal framework|legislative change]] regulating the [[National Defence Radio Establishment (Sweden)|National Defence Radio Establishment]] (FRA) in particular upset its youth organisation.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

In 2021 the party took a more [[European migrant crisis|restrictive migration policy]], easier [[Swedish nationality law|withdrawal of citizenship]] for immigrants, and criticised [[Education in Sweden|Muslim schools]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larsson |first=Simon |date=2 May 2021 |title=Fyra partierna är överens – vill ändra migrationslagen |url=https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/just-nu-overens-vill-andra-migrationslag/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |website=Expressen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 November 2021 |title=L-förslag: Medborgarskap ska kunna återkallas |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/l-forslag-medborgarskap-ska-kunna-aterkallas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113060120/https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/l-forslag-medborgarskap-ska-kunna-aterkallas |archive-date=13 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=SVT Nyheter}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2019 |title=Muslimska friskolan får kritik även från politiskt håll |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/muslimska-friskolan-far-kritik-aven-fran-politiskt-hall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113105329/https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/muslimska-friskolan-far-kritik-aven-fran-politiskt-hall |archive-date=13 November 2021 |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=SVT Nyheter}}</ref>

In an interview with {{lang|sv|[[Dagens Nyheter]]}} in February 2022, Sabuni stated that the Sweden Democrats will "play an important role in an eventual right-wing government" and that she would not be hesitant to work and collaborate with them, stating that there was a possibility of Liberals supporting a Moderate-Christian Democrats-Sweden Democrats government, even if the Liberals were not included in the government while ruling out direct collaboration with the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 February 2022 |title=Nyamko Sabuni om samarbetet i höst: "SD kommer att vara en viktig del" |url=https://www.dn.se/sverige/nyamko-sabuni-om-samarbetet-i-host-sd-kommer-att-vara-en-viktig-del/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202192246/https://www.dn.se/sverige/nyamko-sabuni-om-samarbetet-i-host-sd-kommer-att-vara-en-viktig-del/ |archive-date=2 February 2022 |access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

==Voter base==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2018}}

=== Statistical changes in voter base ===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Socio-economic group and gender of voters'''
| colspan="6" |'''''Percentage of which voting for the Liberals'''''
|-
!''Groups/Gender''
!2002
!2006
!2010
!2014
!2018
!2022
|-
|Blue-collar workers
|8
|5
|5
|3
|3
|2
|-
|White-collar workers
|20
|11
|10
|8
|7
|6
|-
|Businessmen and farmers
|15
|7
|7
|7
|5
|6
|-
|Male
|14
|8
|8
|6
|6
|5
|-
|Female
|16
|8
|8
|5
|5
|4
|-
|<small>Source:</small>
| colspan="6" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=VALU: Väljargrupper |url=https://www.svt.se/datajournalistik/valu2022/valjargrupper/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=SVT Nyheter |language=sv |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912155727/https://www.svt.se/datajournalistik/valu2022/valjargrupper/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

Historically the party had a strong base in the 'free churches' (Protestant congregations not part of the state church that turned into powerful [[grassroots]] movements in the late 19th century), but with the exception of certain regions, that is not a significant feature today. Tensions between factions sometimes described as "the free religionists" and "the metropolitan liberals" (occasionally in the form of an open left-right conflict, with the "free religious" members emphasizing the social aspect over [[economic liberalism|liberal economics]]) was an important part of party life until the seventies. It provoked a party split in the twenties, centred on the question of an alcohol ban, but differences were eventually repaired. (The re-merging of the parties in 1934 is one of the party's plethora of official creation dates, some others being 1895, 1900 and 1902, providing frequent cause for anniversary celebrations.)

The party enjoys higher support among people above the age of 65, tending to be higher among people who have completed higher education. Its support is lowest among people with a pre-[[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasial]] education.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 June 2019 |title=Partisympatier maj 2019 |url=https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/demokrati/partisympatier/partisympatiundersokningen-psu/pong/statistiknyhet/partisympatier-maj-2019/ |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |language=sv |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=4 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704151338/https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/demokrati/partisympatier/partisympatiundersokningen-psu/pong/statistiknyhet/partisympatier-maj-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The party's voters are predominantly urban with more than 30% of L-voters residing in [[Stockholm metropolitan area|Metropolitan Stockholm]]. The party's support is especially strong in affluent municipalities such as [[Danderyd Municipality|Danderyd]], [[Lidingö]] and [[Lomma]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valresultat 2022 – för riksdagsvalet, region- och kommunval |url=https://valresultat.svt.se/2022/index.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=valresultat.svt.se |language=sv |archive-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915190356/https://valresultat.svt.se/2022/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Sveriges Television]]'s [[exit poll]] for the [[2019 European Parliament election|2019 European parliament election]], voters of the Liberals were the most likely to approve of Sweden's EU membership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visualiseringar av Valun för EU-valet 2019 |url=https://www.svt.se/datajournalistik/euvalu2019/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=SVT Nyheter |language=sv}}</ref> In September 2022, 84% of L-voters supported Sweden's bid to join [[NATO]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SVT:s Vallokalsundersökning Riksdagsvalet 2022 |url=https://omoss.svt.se/download/18.69f812fb18327382298d3e8a/1663746207468/valu_riksdagsval_2022_viktat_0921_V3.pdf |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018192338/https://omoss.svt.se/download/18.69f812fb18327382298d3e8a/1663746207468/valu_riksdagsval_2022_viktat_0921_V3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Election results ==
=== Riksdag ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election<ref>[http://www.scb.se/Pages/List____292050.aspx Statistiska Centralbyrån] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717000433/http://www.scb.se/Pages/List____292050.aspx |date=17 July 2012 }}, retrieved 8 July 2012</ref>
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Status
|-
! [[1936 Swedish general election|1936]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Gustaf Andersson (politician)|Gustaf Andersson]]
| 376,161
| 12.9 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|27|230|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1940 Swedish general election|1940]]
| 344,113
| 12.0 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|23|230|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|- 
! rowspan=2 | [[1944 Swedish general election|1944]]
| rowspan=2 | 398,293
| rowspan=2 | 12.9 (#4)
| rowspan=2 | {{Composition bar|26|230|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| rowspan=2 | {{increase}} 3
| {{yes2|Coalition}} {{small|(1944–1945)}}
|- 
| {{no2|Opposition}} {{small|(1945–1948)}}
|-
! [[1948 Swedish general election|1948]]
| rowspan=6 | [[Bertil Ohlin]]
| 882,437
| 22.7 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|57|230|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 31
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1952 Swedish general election|1952]]
| 924,819
| 24.4 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|58|230|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1956 Swedish general election|1956]]
| 923,564
| 23.8 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|58|231|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{steady}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1958 Swedish general election|1958]]
| 700,019
| 18.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|38|231|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 20
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1960 Swedish general election|1960]]
| 744,142
| 17.5 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|40|232|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1964 Swedish general election|1964]]
| 720,733
| 17.0 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|43|233|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1968 Swedish general election|1968]]
| [[Sven Wedén]]
| 688,456
| 14.3 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|34|233|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 9
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[1970 Swedish general election|1970]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Gunnar Helén]]
| 806,667
| 16.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|58|350|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 24
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1973 Swedish general election|1973]]
| 486,028
| 9.4 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|34|350|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 24
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! rowspan=2 | [[1976 Swedish general election|1976]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Per Ahlmark]]
| rowspan=2 | 601,556
| rowspan=2 | 11.1 (#4)
| rowspan=2 | {{Composition bar|39|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| rowspan=2 | {{increase}} 5
| {{yes2|Coalition}} {{small|(1976–1978)}}
|- 
| {{yes2|Minority}} {{small|(1978–1979)}}
|-
! [[1979 Swedish general election|1979]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Ola Ullsten]]
| 577,063
| 10.6 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|38|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|- 
! [[1982 Swedish general election|1982]]
| 327,770
| 5.9 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|21|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 17
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1985 Swedish general election|1985]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Bengt Westerberg]]
| 792,268
| 14.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|51|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 30
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1988 Swedish general election|1988]]
| 655,720
| 12.2 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|44|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1991 Swedish general election|1991]]
| 499,356
| 9.1 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|33|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 11
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|- 
! [[1994 Swedish general election|1994]]
| 399,556
| 7.2 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|26|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 7
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[1998 Swedish general election|1998]]
| rowspan=3 | [[Lars Leijonborg]]
| 248,076
| 4.7 (#6)
| {{Composition bar|17|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 9 
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[2002 Swedish general election|2002]]
| 710,312
| 13.4 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|48|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{increase}} 31
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]]
| 418,395
| 7.5 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|28|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 20 
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|- 
! [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Jan Björklund]]
| 420,524
| 7.1 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|24|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4 
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|- 
! [[2014 Swedish general election|2014]]
| 336,977
| 5.4 (#7)
| {{Composition bar|19|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 5
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- 
! rowspan=2 | [[2018 Swedish general election|2018]]
| rowspan=2 | 355,546 
| rowspan=2 | 5.5 (#7)
| rowspan=2 | {{Composition bar|20|349|hex={{party color|Liberals (Sweden)}}}}
| rowspan=2 | {{increase}} 1
| {{partial2|External support {{small|(2018–2021)}}}}
|-
| {{no2|Opposition {{small|(2021–2022)}}}}
|- 
! [[2022 Swedish general election|2022]]
| [[Johan Pehrson]]
| 297,566
| 4.6 (#8)
| {{Composition bar|16|349|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 4
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|}

=== European Parliament ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Election
!List leader
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
!EP Group 
|-
![[1995 European Parliament election in Sweden|1995]]
|Hadar Cars
|129,376
|4.82 (#6)
|{{composition bar|1|22|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
|New
| rowspan="2" |[[European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group|ELDR]]
|-
![[1999 European Parliament election in Sweden|1999]]
|[[Marit Paulsen]]
|350,339
|13.85 (#4)
|{{composition bar|3|22|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|-
![[2004 European Parliament election in Sweden|2004]]
|[[Cecilia Malmström]]
|247,750
|9.86 (#5)
|{{composition bar|2|19|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
| rowspan="3" |[[ALDE Group|ALDE]]
|-
![[2009 European Parliament election in Sweden|2009]]
|rowspan="2" | [[Marit Paulsen]]
|430,385
|13.58 (#3)
|{{composition bar|3|18|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}} {{composition bar|3|20|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1<br />{{steady}}
|-
![[2014 European Parliament election in Sweden|2014]]
|368,514
|9.91 (#4)
|{{composition bar|2|20|hex={{party color|Liberal People's Party (Sweden)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|-
![[2019 European Parliament election in Sweden|2019]]
|rowspan="2" | [[Karin Karlsbro]]
|171,419
|4.13 (#8)
|{{composition bar|1|20|hex={{party color|Liberals (Sweden)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
| rowspan="2" |[[Renew Europe|RE]]
|-
![[2024 European Parliament election in Sweden|2024]]
|183,675
|4.38 (#8)
|{{composition bar|1|20|hex={{party color|Liberals (Sweden)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|}

== Organization ==

=== Symbols ===
<gallery>
File:Liberals (Sweden) logo.svg|Current logo
File:Swedish_Liberals_Temporary_Logo_2015.png|Transitionary logo after being renamed to the Liberals (2015)
File:Folkpartiet liberalerna.svg|Logo of the Liberal People's Party 
</gallery>

=== Party leaders ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Leader
! Took office
! Left office
|-
| [[Gustaf Andersson (politician)|Gustaf Andersson]]
| 1935
| 28 September 1944
|-
| [[Bertil Ohlin]]
| 28 September 1944
| 1967
|-
| [[Sven Wedén]]
| 1967
| 26 September 1969
|-
| [[Gunnar Helén]]
| 1969
| 7 November 1975
|-
| [[Per Ahlmark]]
| 7 November 1975
| 4 March 1978
|-
| [[Ola Ullsten]]
| 4 March 1978
| 1 October 1983
|-
| [[Bengt Westerberg]]
| 1 October 1983
| 4 February 1995
|-
| [[Maria Leissner]]
| 4 February 1995
| 15 March 1997
|-
| [[Lars Leijonborg]]
| 15 March 1997
| 7 September 2007
|-
| [[Jan Björklund]]
| 7 September 2007
| 28 June 2019
|-
| [[Nyamko Sabuni]]
| 28 June 2019
| 8 April 2022
|-
| [[Johan Pehrson]]
| 8 April 2022
| 24 June 2025
|-
| [[Simona Mohamsson]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nyman |first1=Jenny |title=Mohamsson vald till ny L-ledare: ”Inte självklar” |url=https://www.svd.se/a/0VaEq6/simona-mohamsson-vald-till-ny-l-ledare |website=Svenska Dagbladet |access-date=24 June 2025 |language=sv |date=24 June 2025}}</ref>
| 24 June 2025
| Incumbent
|}

=== Affiliated organisations ===
The party has a youth organization called [[Liberal Youth of Sweden]] (Liberala ungdomsförbundet, LUF), which has its own platform and maintains a separate organisation from the party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luf.se/|title=Liberala ungdomsförbundet|access-date=2 July 2019|publisher=LUF|language=sv|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526091959/https://www.luf.se/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since 2024 its chairperson has been Anton Holmlund.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luf.se/romina/|title=Romina Pourmokthari|publisher=LUF|language=sv|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref>

There is also a women's organization called [[Liberala kvinnor|Liberal Women]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liberalakvinnor.se/|title=Liberala Kvinnor|access-date=2 July 2019|language=sv|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702144123/https://liberalakvinnor.se/|url-status=live}}</ref> ([[Liberala kvinnor|Liberala Kvinnor]], LK, chairperson Cecilia Elving<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liberalakvinnor.se/2019/03/cecilia-elving-ny-ordforande-i-liberala-kvinnor/|title=Cecilia Elving ny ordförande i Liberala Kvinnor|publisher=Liberala Kvinnor|date=4 March 2019|language=sv|access-date=2 July 2019|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702144209/https://liberalakvinnor.se/2019/03/cecilia-elving-ny-ordforande-i-liberala-kvinnor/|url-status=dead}}</ref>) and immigrants' organization called Liberal Mångfald, LM, ([[Liberal Multicultural Association]], chairperson [[Anna Steele Karlström]]). Additionally, party members maintain a number of small ''ad hoc'' "networks" addressing specific issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liberalerna.se/vara-vanner/|title=Våra vänner|publisher=The Liberals|access-date=2 July 2019|language=sv|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702144122/https://www.liberalerna.se/vara-vanner/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== International affiliation ===
The Liberals is a member of the [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party|Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]] and [[Liberal International]]. It is also part of Liberal organisations on the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] and [[Baltic countries|Baltic]] levels. The party's [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] sits with [[Renew Europe]] parliamentary group (previously [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group|ALDE]]).

In the [[European Committee of the Regions]], the Liberals sit in the [[Renew Europe in the European Committee of the Regions|Renew Europe CoR group]] with one full member for the 2025-2030 mandate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CoR Members Page|url=https://memberspage.cor.europa.eu/#/?mandate=mem&language=en&country=SE&politicalgroup=2020112&v=1615217130242|access-date=8 March 2021|archive-date=30 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230124440/https://memberspage.cor.europa.eu/#/?mandate=mem&language=en&country=SE&politicalgroup=2020112&v=1615217130242|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Alliance (Sweden)]]
*[[Liberal Youth of Sweden]]
*[[Liberalism and centrism in Sweden]]
*[[Fria liberaler i Svenska kyrkan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.liberalerna.se/wp-content/uploads/liberalerna_en.pdf The Liberals: Sweden's liberal party] - a factsheet about the party and its policies
* [https://www.riksdagen.se/en/members-and-parties/the-liberal-party/ The Swedish Parliament: The Liberal Party]

{{Alliance for Sweden}}
{{Swedish political parties}}
{{ELDR member parties}}
{{European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}
{{Renew Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Liberals (Sweden)| ]]
[[Category:Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party member parties]]
[[Category:Centre-right parties in Sweden]]
[[Category:Conservative liberal parties]]
[[Category:Liberal International]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Sweden]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1934]]