Abstract
After the dramatic and traumatic year 2003, when the Euro was resoundingly
rejected in a referendum and the Minister for Foreign Affairs was assassinated,
2004 was more low-key. The Social Democratic Party continued as a singleparty
minority government, relying on parliamentary support from the Left
and Green parties. This arrangement, in place since the 1998 election, has
survived longer than expected. Still, there are built-in tensions, which were
increasingly apparent towards the end of 2004. In addition, the Social Democrats
were showing signs of weariness. This was reflected in a disappointing
performance in the election to the European Parliament (EP), as well as in
negative poll ratings for the party and its leader, Prime Minister Göran Persson.
Meanwhile, the four opposition parties were busy preparing a coordinated
effort to unseat the Social Democrats in the election scheduled for 2006.
rejected in a referendum and the Minister for Foreign Affairs was assassinated,
2004 was more low-key. The Social Democratic Party continued as a singleparty
minority government, relying on parliamentary support from the Left
and Green parties. This arrangement, in place since the 1998 election, has
survived longer than expected. Still, there are built-in tensions, which were
increasingly apparent towards the end of 2004. In addition, the Social Democrats
were showing signs of weariness. This was reflected in a disappointing
performance in the election to the European Parliament (EP), as well as in
negative poll ratings for the party and its leader, Prime Minister Göran Persson.
Meanwhile, the four opposition parties were busy preparing a coordinated
effort to unseat the Social Democrats in the election scheduled for 2006.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1195-1202 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | European Journal of Political Research |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 7-8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |