The Press THURSDAY, SETEMBER 23, 1948. Swedish Election

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 4

The Press THURSDAY, SETEMBER 23, 1948. Swedish Election

Swedish temperament and the proportional representation system in elections normally make for narrow political swings. That is why the Liberal People’s Party’s gains in the general election last week were almost startlingly large. The Social Democrat Party, which has held power since the war-time national Government was dissolved in 1945, retained its majority with a loss of three seats; but the People’s Party increased its'strength from 26 seats to 57. In recent months the People’s Party has effectively used current discontents to win over unattached voters and detach some from the Social Democrats, who have had to bear the blame for irksome controls and have been criticised for their failure to take immediate and energetic action to check the drain on Sweden’s foreign currency reserves. Sweden has been exceedingly pros-, perous. Standards of living have commonly reached high levels; but the drain on foreign currency reserves, caused by the post-war appreciation of the krone, a steep rise in imports, and a considerable fall in exports, to which a heavy home demand contributed, has produced a crisis. The Government has had to restrict imports, curtail its ambitious five-year housing programme, and reintroduce rationing of many foods. These unpopular measures have helped the People’s Party which, though formally antiSocialist, is still committed to the general principles of a planned economy and to social reform. The People’s Party also has been aided by the very able leadership of Mr Bertil Ohlin, the economist, who has proved an astute Parliamentarian and a brilliant debater. It is not surprising that Communist representation in the new Parliament has been reduced from 15 seats to nine. The Communists are not strongly rooted, and have not represented more than about 10 per cent, of the voters. The Social Democrats have tried to reduce their influence in the trade unions and excluded them from vital posts in the police and armed forces. The electorate therefore had a lead in Stockholm. But it has probably taken more notice of warnings in Moscow and where Moscow prevails.