Hej to all on the Scandinavian Politics Specialist Group list,
Two quick notices.
1. We've proposed two panels for the PSA conference in April 2007. See the
Scandinavian Politics website for details (address below, click on
Conference panels and other events).
2. The new Swedish cabinet has this morning been announced. The only
rumour to have leaked out of the negotiations between the four allied
centre-right parties appeared yesterday in a Danish paper, and it turned
out to be true - as well as mildly sensational. Carl Bildt, former
Moderate leader and prime minister, will be the foreign minister. This is
a bold choice by the new prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt. He has
apparently disregarded the risk of being overshadowed by his
internationally well-known predecessor. What's more, relations between the
two when Bildt was party leader and Reinfeldt was chair of the
Moderates'youth wing were not, it seems, enormously warm.
Otherwise, the Moderates have bagged half of the 22 portfolios. Apart from
those of prime minister and foreign minister, they get get justice,
defence and finance, too - which probably amounts to rather more
heavyweight positions than most pundits had expected. The Centre Party's
successful election brings it four portfolios, including commerce, the one
that party leader Maud Olofsson clearly wanted and has got. The Liberals
also get four jobs. Party leader Lars Leijonborg gets education; MEP (and
political scientist) Cecilia Malmström gets the new job of EU minister.
The Christian Democrats' leader Göran Hägglund gets social affairs as one
of his party's three portfolios.
More information can be found at the usual sites, including Dagens Nyheter
(dn.se).
Best,
Nick.
--
Dr Nicholas Aylott, senior lecturer (docent) in political science
School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University College
SE-141 89 Huddinge, Sweden
www.sh.se
Please feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be
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to me, the convenor (nicholas.aylott@sh.se). If you want to send something
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just let me know. See also www.psa.ac.uk/spgrp/scandinavia
