As of the Cabinet reshuffle effective on October 10, 2003, in wake of the murder of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anna Lindh, the Cabinet has 22 Ministers including the Prime Minister.
Since the last organizational change in 1998 the Government Offices has, apart from the Prime Minister's Office and an Office for Administrative Affairs, ten Ministries.
The Prime Minister leads the work of the Cabinet and is the official Head of Government. On occasion there has been appointed Deputy Prime Ministers, but when none such exist the Minister with the most seniority in Cabinet, is the designate Deputy Prime Minister. Ten of the Cabinet Ministers are also Heads of Office for their respective Ministries.
The Ministries in Sweden are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, relying on Government Agencies who independently carry out Government Policy. A Government Agency is constituted under the authority of a Ministry, but the Ministry is only allowed to influence the Agency by making policy. The Minister in charge is furthermore prohibited from interfering with the day-to-day operation and the outcome in individual cases.
An exception to this are the Legations and Embassies in foreign countries, which are under the direct authority and integrated with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Head of Government
Main article: Prime Minister of SwedenCabinet Government
Government Offices
From October 10, 2003:Prime Minister's Office
Ministry of Justice
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Education and Science
Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications
Office for Administrative Affairs
The Office for Administrative Affairs, or Statskontoret, is staffed and led by civil servants. The Permanent Secretary, currently Gunnar Holmgren, is not a member of government. Government Agencies
See also: Government Agencies in SwedenSee also
External links