72-530: The Olof Palme Prize is an annual Swedish prize awarded for an outstanding achievement in the spirit of Olof Palme . The Prize consists of a diploma and 100,000 US dollars. The prize was established in February 1987 and is awarded by the Olof Palme Memorial Fund for International Understanding and Common Security ( Swedish : Olof Palmes minnesfond för internationell förståelse och gemensam säkerhet ),
144-634: A Treaty of Amity and Commerce . From 1801-02, Sweden was allied with the United States during the First Barbary War , fought against the Barbary corsairs to prevent further disruption of trade in the Mediterranean Sea . During the period between 1820–1930 approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's population, emigrated to North America and most of them to the United States. Like
216-457: A progressive . Domestically, his leftist views, especially the drive to expand labour union influence over business ownership, engendered a great deal of hostility from the organized business community. During the tenure of Palme, several major reforms in the Swedish constitution were carried out, such as orchestrating a switch from bicameralism to unicameralism in 1971 and in 1975 replacing
288-521: A cinema with his wife Lisbeth Palme in the central Stockholm street Sveavägen when he was shot in the back at close range. A second shot grazed Lisbeth's back. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Sabbatsberg Hospital at 00:06 CET . Lisbeth survived without serious injuries. Deputy Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson immediately assumed the duties of Prime Minister, a post he retained until 1991 (and then again in 1994–1996). He also took over
360-499: A feminist speech called "The Emancipation of Man" at a meeting of the Woman's National Democratic Club on 8 June 1970; this speech was later published in 1972. As a forerunner in green politics , Palme was a firm believer in nuclear power as a necessary form of energy, at least for a transitional period to curb the influence of fossil fuel . His intervention in Sweden's 1980 referendum on
432-500: A fund that was established by Olof Palme's family and the Swedish Social Democratic Party in honor of Olof Palme's memory. Sourcs: Olof Palme Sven Olof Joachim Palme ( / ˈ p ɑː l m ə / ; Swedish: [ˈûːlɔf ˈpâlːmɛ] ; 30 January 1927 – 28 February 1986) was a Swedish politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1969 to 1976 and 1982 to 1986. Palme led
504-467: A government and succeed Erlander as Prime Minister. Prior to the selection of Palme, President of Finland Urho Kekkonen asked Erlander who his successor would be, and Erlander gave evasive answers. Kekkonen then asked if it would be Palme, to which Erlander responded, "Never, he is far too intelligent for a Prime Minister". Palme was later asked when Erlander first hinted to him that he wanted him to succeed him. Palme stated, "It never happened." Palme
576-617: A group that became known as "the boys". From 1955 he was a board member of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League and lectured at the Youth League College Bommersvik . He also was a member of the Worker's Educational Association. In 1957 he was elected as a member of parliament (Swedish: riksdagsledamot ) represented Jönköping County in the directly elected Second Chamber ( Andra kammaren ) of
648-731: A law of 1970, in the upper secondary school system "gymnasium," “fackskola" and vocational "yrkesskola" were integrated to form one school with 3 sectors (arts and social science, technical and natural sciences, economic and commercial). In 1975, a law was passed that established free admission to universities. A number of reforms were also carried out to enhance workers' rights. An employment protection Act of 1974 introduced rules regarding consultation with unions, notice periods, and grounds for dismissal, together with priority rules for dismissals and re-employment in case of redundancies. That same year, work-environment improvement grants were introduced and made available to modernising firms "conditional upon
720-622: A law which increased job security . In the Swedish 1973 general election , the Socialist-Communist and the Liberal-Conservative blocs got 175 places each in the Riksdag . The Palme cabinet continued to govern the country but several times they had to draw lots to decide on some issues, although most important issues were decided through concessional agreement. Tax rates also rose from being fairly low even by Western European standards to
792-712: A small liberal arts school in central Ohio from 1947 to 1948, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Inspired by radical debate in the student community, he wrote a critical essay on Friedrich Hayek 's The Road to Serfdom . Palme wrote his senior honour thesis on the United Auto Workers union, led at the time by Walter Reuther . After graduation, he traveled throughout the country and eventually ended up in Detroit , where his hero Reuther agreed to an interview which lasted several hours. In later years, Palme regularly remarked during his many subsequent American visits, that
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#1733106099690864-468: A social democrat to three major influences: In 1956, Palme married children's psychologist Lisbeth Beck-Friis , and together they had three sons: Joakim , Mårten , and Mattias Palme. Palme was an atheist . In 1953, Palme was recruited by social democratic prime minister Tage Erlander to work as his personal secretary, becoming the first of Erlander's large personal staff, a group of young aides such as Ingvar Carlsson and Bengt K. Å. Johansson ,
936-466: A speech on Swedish national radio where he compared the ongoing US bombings of Hanoi to some of the worst atrocities committed by the Nazis . The US government called the comparison a "gross insult" and once again decided to freeze its diplomatic relations with Sweden (this time the freeze lasted for over a year). Relations improved when Thorbjörn Fälldin became Swedish prime minister in 1976, and following
1008-454: A treaty of amity and trade with our young and struggling nation. All these things we Americans recall today with grateful hearts. The first Swedish head of government who met with a US President was Prime Minister Tage Erlander , who visited Harry S. Truman at the White House in 1952. The period between 1960 and 1968 also marked a cold period in the political relations between Sweden and
1080-556: The 1809 Instrument of Government (at the time the oldest political constitution in the world after that of the United States ) with a new one officially establishing parliamentary democracy rather than de jure monarchic autocracy, abolishing the Cabinet meetings chaired by the King and stripping the monarchy of all formal political powers. His reforms on labour market included establishing
1152-659: The American Civil War on the Union side. (See also John Ericsson USS Monitor ) In 1938, on the tercentenary of New Sweden, the Delaware monument was inaugurated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prince Bertil of Sweden . Roosevelt said in his speech: Nor have we as Americans forgotten that after the War of the Revolution, Sweden was the first neutral European power to negotiate
1224-601: The BEAC and CBSS . Like many European powers, Sweden participated in the colonization of America that started in the 17th century. The first Swedish colony along the banks of the Delaware River was established in 1638 (see New Sweden ) . Sweden under king Gustavus III was the first country not engaged in the American Revolutionary War to recognize the young American republic. The Swedish Count Axel von Fersen
1296-533: The Irish diaspora it was sparked by poverty in Sweden, which was exacerbated during bad years. Only Britain (especially Ireland) and Norway had a higher emigration rate. Most of the Swedish emigrants settled in the central and Western United States. By 1910, Chicago had a greater population of Swedes than Gothenburg . Minnesota was also a place where many Swedish emigrants settled. The majority of Swedish-Americans fought in
1368-632: The Riksdag . In the early 1960s Palme became a member of the Agency for International Assistance (NIB) and was in charge of inquiries into assistance to the developing countries and educational aid. In 1963, he became a member of the Cabinet as minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office, and retained his duties as a close political adviser to Prime Minister Tage Erlander . In 1965, he became Minister of Communications . One issue of special interest to him
1440-876: The Russian invasion of Ukraine . Sweden is a participant in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council . Sweden currently participates with around 500 troops in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), under the command of NATO, in Afghanistan . Four parties represented in the Parliament, the centre-right Alliance , support NATO membership. During the Libyan Civil War of 2011 , the Swedish Air Force worked closely with NATO and
1512-495: The September 11, 2001 attacks , the Swedish government expressed its sympathies with the U.S. and supported the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan . However, like many other European governments, Sweden opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq , reasoning that the invasion was a breach of international law . However, Prime Minister Göran Persson was relatively mild in his criticism of the U.S. compared to Olof Palme's strong criticism during
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#17331060996901584-779: The Skandia building next to the crime scene, and police investigation number ("H" representing the eighth letter, i.e. "Suspect Profile No. 8"), took their own lives in 2000 and 2008 respectively. Both fitted the suspect profile vaguely, and owned firearms. GH was a long-time suspect partly because he had self-described financial motives, and owned the only registered .357 Magnum in the Stockholm vicinity not tested and ruled out by authorities, which as yet has not been recovered. On 18 March 2020, Swedish investigators met in Pretoria with members of South African intelligence agencies to discuss
1656-565: The Soviet Union , António de Oliveira Salazar of Portugal, Gustáv Husák of Czechoslovakia , and most notably John Vorster and P. W. Botha of South Africa, denouncing apartheid as a "particularly gruesome system". His 1972 condemnation of American bombings in Hanoi , comparing the bombings to a number of historical crimes including the bombing of Guernica , the massacres of Oradour-sur-glane , Babi Yar , Katyn , Lidice and Sharpeville and
1728-542: The Swedish Committee for Vietnam and Palme and Nguyen were both invited as speakers. As a result of this, the U.S. recalled its Ambassador from Sweden and Palme was fiercely criticised by the opposition for his participation in the protest. When party leader Tage Erlander stepped down in 1969, Palme was elected as the new leader by the Social Democratic party congress and asked by king Gustaf VI Adolf to form
1800-604: The Swedish National Union of Students . In 1951, he became a member of the social democratic student association in Stockholm, although it is asserted he did not attend their political meetings at the time. The following year he was elected President of the Swedish National Union of Students. As a student politician he concentrated on international affairs and travelled across Europe. Palme attributed his becoming
1872-563: The Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his assassination in 1986. A longtime protégé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander , he became Prime Minister of Sweden in 1969, heading a Privy Council Government . He left office after failing to form a government after the 1976 general election , which ended 40 years of unbroken rule by the Social Democratic Party. While Leader of the Opposition , he served as special mediator of
1944-583: The United Nations in the Iran–Iraq War , and was President of the Nordic Council in 1979. He faced a second defeat in 1979 , but he returned as prime minister after electoral victories in 1982 and 1985 , and served until his death. Palme was a pivotal and polarizing figure domestically as well as in international politics from the 1960s onward. He was steadfast in his non-alignment policy towards
2016-559: The United States had made him a socialist, a remark that often has caused confusion. Within the context of his American experience, it was not that Palme was repelled by what he found in America, but rather that he was inspired by it. After hitchhiking through the U.S. and Mexico , he returned to Sweden to study law at Stockholm University . In 1949 he became a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party . During his time at university, Palme became involved in student politics, working with
2088-607: The United States reach back to the days of the American Revolutionary War . The Kingdom of Sweden was the first country not formally engaged in the conflict (although around a hundred Swedish volunteers partook on the side of the Patriots ) to recognize the United States before the Treaty of Paris . The Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed subsequently in 1783 between Benjamin Franklin and Swedish representative Gustaf Philip Creutz . In
2160-538: The Vietnam War (including use of Agent Orange and other rainbow herbicides to deforst whole areas of the country) as ecocide and called for it to become an international crime. On 23 December 1972, Palme (then Prime Minister) made a speech on Swedish national radio where he compared the ongoing U.S. bombings of Hanoi to historical atrocities, namely the bombing of Guernica , the massacres of Oradour-sur-Glane , Babi Yar , Katyn , Lidice and Sharpeville , and
2232-547: The assassination of Olof Palme in 1986 and the succession of Ingvar Carlsson as new Prime Minister, Swedish-American relations improved. Ingvar Carlsson met with President Ronald Reagan in 1987, the first time that a Swedish Prime Minister was invited to the White House since 1961, when Erlander paid a visit to Kennedy. Carlsson's successor as Prime Minister, Carl Bildt , visited both President George H. W. Bush in 1992 and President Bill Clinton in 1994. Immediately after
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2304-411: The extermination of Jews and other groups at Treblinka . The US government called the comparison a "gross insult" and once again decided to freeze its diplomatic relations with Sweden (this time the freeze lasted for over a year). Political violence was little-known in Sweden at the time, and Olof Palme often went about without a bodyguard. Close to midnight on 28 February 1986, he was walking home from
2376-642: The occupation of the Student Union Building in Stockholm; Palme came there and tried to comfort the students, urging them to use democratic methods for the pursuit of their cause. On 21 February 1968, Palme participated in a protest in Stockholm against U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam together with the North Vietnamese ambassador to the Soviet Union, Nguyễn Thọ Chân . The protest was organized by
2448-470: The 1800s, relations were largely cordial. Masses of Swedes emigrated to the United States from the 1840s–1920s, estimated at around a quarter of the Swedish population. The immigrants were eager for the promise of opportunity and land; many settled in the American Midwest. The result was a substantial Swedish American population. In the 20th century, the countries were fellow democracies (with
2520-542: The 1980s, in particular, owing to reports of incursions by Soviet submarines into Swedish territorial waters . On the international scene, Palme was a widely recognised political figure because of his: All of this ensured that Palme had many opponents as well as many friends abroad. In June 1972 at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment he described the environmental damage caused by
2592-591: The Knieriem family who originated from Quedlinburg , descended from Baltic German burghers and clergy and had arrived in Sweden from Russia as a refugee in 1915. Elisabeth's great-great-great grandfather Johann Melchior von Knieriem (1758–1817) had been ennobled by the Emperor Alexander I of Russia in 1814. The von Knieriem family does not count as members of any of the Baltic knighthoods . Palme's father died when he
2664-457: The Swedish economy was under public ownership , and the influence of the state had grown massively. Access to pensions for older workers in poor health was liberalised in 1970, and a disability pension was introduced for older unemployed workers in 1972. The Palme cabinet was also active in the field of education, introducing such reforms as a system of loans and benefits for students, regional universities, and preschool for all children. Under
2736-770: The U.S., mainly due to the Swedish government's vocal opposition to the Vietnam War . In February 1968, the US recalled its Ambassador from Sweden after the Swedish Minister of Education and future prime minister Olof Palme , a Social Democrat , had participated in a protest in Stockholm against the war together with the North Vietnamese Ambassador to the Soviet Union Nguyen Tho Chan . The post of US Ambassador to Sweden remained vacant until February 1970. In December 1972, Olof Palme (then Prime Minister) made
2808-588: The USA. During the Cold War , the Swedish government secretly made preparations to receive military aid from the United States in case of Soviet aggression. Sweden also aided the US in secrecy, possibly most famously when four Swedish pilots were awarded US Air Medals for saving the highly classified Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane from Soviet hands. The US pilots of the SR-71 stated that had Sweden not intervened and escorted
2880-426: The United States and met with President Donald Trump. In June 2019, American rapper ASAP Rocky , real name Rakim Mayers, was arrested and held on remand in Sweden over a physical altercation in Stockholm. President Donald Trump made several tweets where he demanded that the Swedish government release Mayers. A spokesperson for prime minister Löfven released a statement in response to Trump's request which stated that
2952-551: The United States and to represent Washington in North Korea on consular matters. U.S. President Joe Biden approved the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden in August 2022. The United States supported Sweden's NATO membership during Sweden's accession into NATO , which was finalized on 7 March 2024. The present both countries NATO and AC . And United States is observer bureau of
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3024-613: The Vietnam War. In the Statement of Government Policy presented to the Riksdag on October 6, 2006, the new centre-right Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt declared that the new government will work for a "strengthening of the transatlantic link ". Reinfeldt's party, the Moderate Party , is more pro-American than the social democrats and supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Swedish membership of NATO . Reinfeldt visited President Bush at
3096-419: The White House on May 15, 2007. According to a 2012 Gallup poll, 36% of Swedes approve of U.S. leadership, with 30% disapproving and 34% uncertain. Following President Donald Trump 's first 2020 presidential campaign rally at which he referred to "what's happening last night in Sweden " the Swedish government requested clarification from the U.S. State Department in regards to Trump's understanding of what
3168-618: The assassination and was later identified as a potential suspect by Swedish writers Lars Larsson and Thomas Pettersson . Given that Engström had committed suicide in 2000, the authorities also announced that the investigation into Palme's death was to be closed. Some politicians and journalists in Turkey relate the assassination of Palme to PKK since he was the first in Europe to designate PKK as terrorist organisation. Sweden%E2%80%93United States relations The relations between Sweden and
3240-418: The basic old-age pension replacement rate from 42% of the average wage in 1969 to 57%, while a health care reform carried out in 1974 integrated all health services and increased the minimum replacement rate from 64% to 90% of earnings. In 1974, supplementary unemployment assistance was established, providing benefits to those workers ineligible for existing benefits. In 1971, eligibility for invalidity pensions
3312-412: The case on 10 June 2020. Earlier remarks by lead investigator Krister Petersson that "there might not be a prosecution" have led commentators to believe that the suspect is dead. On 10 June 2020, Swedish prosecutors stated publicly that they knew who had killed Palme and named Stig Engström , also known as "Skandia Man", as the assassin. Engström was one of about twenty people who had claimed to witness
3384-476: The case. The South Africans handed over their file from 1986 to their Swedish colleagues. Göran Björkdahl , a Swedish diplomat, had done independent research on Palme's assassination. Major General Chris Thirion, who headed the military intelligence of South Africa during the final years of apartheid rule, had told Björkdahl in 2015 that he believed South Africa was behind Palme's murder. Swedish investigators announced that they would reveal new information and close
3456-579: The damaged SR-71, but as the aircraft was under escort by the Swedish Saab 37 Viggen pilots no missiles were fired. On 29 November 2018, the four Swedish pilots involved were awarded medals from the US Air Force. Reflecting the fact that Sweden has a higher proportion of English speakers than most other countries which were never part of the British Empire , Swedish producers and songwriters have played
3528-515: The end of the Swedish monarchy's power after World War I) and maintained cordial if distant relations. Sweden maintained official neutrality but supplied nearby Nazi Germany during World War II , causing some tension with the Allies. During the Cold War , Sweden did not join NATO and maintained a neutral status between the Western and Eastern Bloc, although its democratic and mixed capitalist approach
3600-514: The evidence as only circumstantial, and – by the prosecutors' own admission – too weak to ensure a trial had the suspect been alive. The true identity of his assassin remains unknown. Sven Olof Joachim Palme was born on 30 January 1927 into an upper class, conservative Lutheran family in the Östermalm district of Stockholm . The progenitor of the Palme family was skipper Palme Lydert of Ystad of either Dutch or German ancestry. His sons adopted
3672-570: The extermination of Jews and other groups at Treblinka , resulted in a temporary freeze in Sweden–United States relations . Palme's assassination on a Stockholm street on 28 February 1986 was the first murder of a national leader in Sweden since Gustav III in 1792, and had a great impact across Scandinavia . Local convict and addict Christer Pettersson was originally convicted of the murder in Stockholm District Court but
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#17331060996903744-513: The future of nuclear power is often pinpointed by opponents of nuclear power as saving it. As of 2011, nuclear power remains one of the most important sources of clean energy in Sweden, much attributed to Palme's actions. Palme advocated for nuclear energy to move away from fossil fuels in his speech during the Stockholm Conference in 1972 Soviet–Swedish bilateral relations were tested during Palme's second span of time as prime minister in
3816-512: The government was not allowed to influence legal proceedings in Sweden and that "everyone is equal before the law". The United States and Sweden have strong economic relations. The United States is, as of 2022, the third-largest Swedish export trade partner, and U.S. companies are the most represented foreign companies in Sweden. Although Sweden has a longstanding policy of political neutrality in international affairs, Sweden decided to apply for full membership of NATO in May 2022, following
3888-412: The highest levels in the Western world. Under Palme's premiership tenure, matters concerned with child care centers, social security , protection of the elderly, accident safety, and housing problems received special attention. Under Palme the public health system in Sweden became efficient, with the infant mortality rate standing at 12 per 1,000 live births. An ambitious redistributive programme
3960-524: The leadership of the Social Democratic Party, which he held until 1996. Two years later, Christer Pettersson (d. 2004), a murderer, small-time criminal and drug addict, was convicted of Palme's murder, but his conviction was overturned. Another suspect, Victor Gunnarsson , emigrated to the United States, where he was the victim of an unrelated murder in 1993. The assassination remained unsolved. A third and fourth suspect popularly referred to as " The Skandia Man " and GH , after their working place at
4032-405: The plane to safety on 29 June 1987, a dramatic escalation to the Cold War could have occurred through an international crisis. The event was classified for over 30 years, and when the report was unsealed, data from the NSA showed that several MiG-25s had been dispatched with the order to shoot down the SR-71 or force it to land after it had gotten an engine failure. A MiG-25 had locked a missile on
4104-497: The presence of union-appointed 'safety stewards' to review the introduction of new technology with regard to the health and safety of workers". In 1976, an Act on co-determination at work was introduced that allowed unions to be consulted at various levels within companies before major changes were enforced that would affect employees, while management had to negotiate with labour for joint rights in all matters concerning organisation of work, hiring and firing, and key decisions affecting
4176-607: The superpowers, accompanied by support for numerous liberation movements following decolonization including, most controversially, economic and vocal support for a number of Third World governments. He was the first Western head of government to visit Cuba after its revolution , giving a speech in Santiago praising contemporary Cuban revolutionaries . Frequently a critic of Soviet and American foreign policy, he expressed his resistance to imperialist ambitions and authoritarian regimes, including those of Francisco Franco of Spain, Augusto Pinochet of Chile, Leonid Brezhnev of
4248-783: The surname Palme. Many of the early Palmes were vicars and judges in Scania . One branch of the family, of which Olof Palme was part, and which became more affluent, relocated to Kalmar ; that branch is related to several other prominent Swedish families such as the Kreugers, von Sydows and the Wallenbergs . His father, Gunnar Palme [ sv ] (1886–1934), was a businessman, son of Sven Theodore Palme [ sv ] (1854–1934) and Swedish-speaking Finnish Baroness Hanna Maria von Born-Sarvilahti [ fi ] (1861–1959). Through her, Olof Palme claimed ancestry from King Johan III of Sweden, his father King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and King Frederick I of Denmark and Norway . His mother, Elisabeth von Knieriem (1890–1972), of
4320-444: The university entrance examination with high marks at the age of 17. He was called up into the Army in January 1945 and did his compulsory military service at Svea Artillery Regiment between 1945 and 1947, becoming in 1956 a reserve officer with the rank of Captain in the Artillery. After he was discharged from military service in March 1947, he enrolled at Stockholm University . On a scholarship, he studied at Kenyon College ,
4392-809: The workplace. Palme's last government, elected during a time when Sweden's economy was in difficult shape, sought to pursue a "third way," designed to stimulate investment, production, and employment, having ruled out classical Keynesian policies as a result of the growing burden of foreign debt, together with the big balance of payments and budget deficits. This involved "equality of sacrifice," whereby wage restraint would be accompanied by increases in welfare provision and more progressive taxation . For instance, taxes on wealth, gifts, and inheritance were increased, while tax benefits to shareholders were either reduced or eliminated. In addition, various welfare cuts carried out before Olof's return to office were rescinded. The previous system of indexing pensions and other benefits
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#17331060996904464-426: Was a distinguished soldier during the war, serving as an interpreter between General Rochambeau and General Washington . Also the Swedish count Curt von Stedingk , led the second assault during the Siege of Savannah in 1779. Both were made members of the Society of the Cincinnati . In 1783 the United States' Ambassador to Paris, Benjamin Franklin , and the Swedish Ambassador, Count Gustaf Philip Creutz , signed
4536-439: Was a driving force behind the release of the documentary Dom kallar oss mods ("They Call Us Misfits"). The controversial film, depicting two social outcasts, was scheduled to be released in an edited form but Palme thought the material was too socially important to be cut. An outspoken supporter of gender equality, Palme sparked interest for women's rights issues by attending a World Women's Conference in Mexico . He also made
4608-474: Was carried out, with special help provided to the disabled , immigrants, the low paid, single-parent families, and the old. The Swedish welfare state was significantly expanded from a position already one of the most far-reaching in the world during his time in office. As noted by Isabela Mares, during the first half of the Seventies "the level of benefits provided by every subsystem of the welfare state improved significantly." Various policy changes increased
4680-456: Was extended with greater opportunities for employees over the age of 60. In 1974, universal dental insurance was introduced, and former maternity benefits were replaced by a parental allowance. In 1974, housing allowances for families with children were raised and these allowances were extended to other low-income groups. Childcare centres were also expanded under Palme, and separate taxation of husband and wife introduced. Under Palme, over half of
4752-411: Was generally more in tune with the West and the United States. After the end of the Vietnam War , which was deeply unpopular in Sweden, relations between the two countries improved. The two countries have been largely friendly to each other since. United States supports Sweden's NATO membership. Under a comprehensive mandate, Sweden's nonalignment policy has led it to serve as the protecting power for
4824-491: Was going on in Sweden. On February 19, the Cabinet of Sweden requested an explanation from the White House and the Swedish Embassy in the United States offered to inform the US administration in the future about Swedish immigration and integration policies. On February 23, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs referred to discussions about Sweden's refugee policies as "simplistic and occasionally completely inaccurate." On March 6, 2018 Prime Minister Stefan Löfven visited
4896-423: Was restored, the grant-in-aid scheme for municipal child care facilities was re-established, unemployment insurance was restored in full, and the so-called "no benefit days" for those drawing sickness benefits were cancelled. Increases were also made to both food subsidies and child allowances, while the employee investment funds (which represented a radical form of profit-sharing) were introduced. In 1968, Palme
4968-560: Was seven years old. Despite his background, his political orientation came to be influenced by Social Democratic attitudes. His travels in the Third World , as well as the United States, where he saw deep economic inequality and racial segregation , helped to develop these views. A sickly child, Olof Palme received his education from private tutors. Even as a child he gained knowledge of two foreign languages — German and English . He studied at Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket , one of Sweden's few residential high schools, and passed
5040-401: Was the further development of radio and television, while ensuring their independence from commercial interests. In 1967 he became Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs , and the following year, he became Minister for Education and was the target of strong criticism from left-wing students protesting against the government's plans for university reform. The protests culminated with
5112-444: Was unanimously acquitted by the Svea Court of Appeal . On 10 June 2020, Swedish prosecutors held a press conference to announce that there was "reasonable evidence" that Stig Engström had killed Palme. As Engström had taken his own life in 2000, the authorities announced that the investigation into Palme's death was to be closed. The 2020 conclusion has faced widespread criticism from lawyers, police officers and journalists, decrying
5184-399: Was very popular among the left, but harshly detested by liberals and conservatives. This was due in part to his international activities, especially those directed against the US foreign policy, and in part to his aggressive and outspoken debating style. As leader of a new generation of Swedish Social Democrats, Palme was often described as a "revolutionary reformist" and self-identified as
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