The Left Party (Vänsterpartiet, often abbreviated as (v)) is a political party in Sweden. The Left Party, formerly the Communist Left Party (Vänsterpartiet kommunisterna or (vpk)), is today a party which expresses some of the traditional values of the social democrats but with a more radical view. In welfare issues they oppose privatization, they are more focused on the environment than other leftists, they oppose Swedish membership of the European Union and are a proponent of feminist and egalitarian politics. Their voter base consists mainly of the younger generation, public sector employees, journalists, and former social democrats.

The Left Party is a member of the Nordic Green Left Alliance.

Vänsterpartiet is in coalition rule, since 1996, together with the Social Democrats and the Greens in the Swedish parliament and in many of Sweden's counties and municipalities.

Factional tension and controversy following the election of Communist Lars Ohly as party leader in early 2004, prompted a small local branch in Gnesta Municipality on March 28 to leave the organization and form a new party, Vänsterdemokraterna.

Party names

• 1917-1921 Sverges Socialdemokratiska Vänsterparti (SSV, Social Democratic Left Party of Sweden)
• 1921-1967 Sveriges Kommunistiska Parti (SKP, Communist Party of Sweden)
• 1967-1990 Vänsterpartiet Kommunisterna (VPK, Left Party - Communists)
• 1990- Vänsterpartiet (Left Party)

Party leaders

• Carl Winberg , 1917
• Zeth Höglund , 1917, 1919-1924
• Ernst Åström , 1918
• Karl Kilbom , 1918, 1921-1923
• Nils Flyg , 1924-1929
• Sven Linderot , 1929-1951
• Hilding Hagberg , 1951-1964
• C H Hermansson, 1964-1975
• Lars Werner, 1975-1993
• Gudrun Schyman, 1993-2003
• Ulla Hoffman (acting), 2003-2004
• Lars Ohly 2004-

See also

• Ung Vänster
• Referenda in Sweden

Publications

• Blekinge Folkblad (1943-1957)
• Bohustidningen  (1946-1948)
• Borås Folkblad (1943-1957)
• Dalarnes Folkblad (1917-1925)
• Dalarnes Folkblad (1940-1956)
• Folkviljan (1942-1957)
• Folkviljan (1980-1989)
• Gästriklands Folkblad (1921-1922)
• Hälsingekuriren (1919-1923)
• Kalmar Läns-Kuriren (1923-1942)
• Norra Småland (1918-1923)
• Norrlandskuriren (1922)
• Norrskensflamman (1906-1977)
• Piteåbygden (1920)
• Röda Röster (1919-1930)
• Skånes Folkblad (1918-1922)
• Smålandsfolket (1940)
• Örebro Läns Arbetartidning (1940-1956)
• Örebro Läns Folkblad (1919-1920)
• Övre Dalarnes Tidning (1917-1920)

References

• United States Department of State - Sweden

External links

• Vänsterpartiet - Official site