Karl Staaff
Encyclopedia
Karl Albert Staaff was a Swedish
liberal
politician
and lawyer
. He was chairman of the Liberal Coalition Party
(1907–1915) and served twice as Prime Minister of Sweden
(1905–1906 and 1911–1914).
Staaff was active in the Swedish movement for universal suffrage
, and as the Liberal
party's prime minister
he presided in 1905 over the introduction of a limited democratic vote for men. His successor Nils Edén
eventually managed to carry this further into universal suffrage in 1918.
Staaff ran into sharp conflict with the conservative Swedish establishment, and became a hated figure in the Conservative
, pro-Monarchic
and anti-Democratic
establishment. An intense smear campaign was launched against him, picturing him as the destroyer of Swedish tradition and society: wealthy Stockholm
ers could even buy ash-trays shaped as his head. His staunch anti-military politics created the greatest fundraising in the Swedish history until that time, the 12m kronor coastal battleship HMS Sverige
where the funds where raised in a few months in 1912. Staaff had to bite the lemon, and the ship was ordered.
In 1914 Staaff stepped down from government in protest, after Conservatives had summoned a farmers' demonstration at the Royal castle's court in Stockholm, where King Gustaf V - who according to the law was supposed to stay out of politics - denounced Staaffs defence policies.
The contemporary Swedish Liberal party Liberal People's Party
counts him as the first among the more prominent leaders of Swedish 20th century liberalism, followed by such parliamentarians as Nils Edén, Carl Ekman
, nobel prize
laureate Bertil Ohlin
, Gunnar Helén
, Per Ahlmark
and Bengt Westerberg
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He was chairman of the Liberal Coalition Party
Liberal Coalition Party
The Liberal Coalition Party was a political party in Sweden represented in the Swedish parliament from 1900 to 1924. The party was in government from 1905 to 1906 and from 1911 to 1914 under the leadership of Karl Staaff, and from 1917 to 1920 under the leadership of Nils Edén.In 1924 the party...
(1907–1915) and served twice as Prime Minister of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
(1905–1906 and 1911–1914).
Staaff was active in the Swedish movement for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
, and as the Liberal
Liberal Coalition Party
The Liberal Coalition Party was a political party in Sweden represented in the Swedish parliament from 1900 to 1924. The party was in government from 1905 to 1906 and from 1911 to 1914 under the leadership of Karl Staaff, and from 1917 to 1920 under the leadership of Nils Edén.In 1924 the party...
party's prime minister
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
he presided in 1905 over the introduction of a limited democratic vote for men. His successor Nils Edén
Nils Edén
Nils Edén was a Swedish historian and liberal politician, Prime Minister of Sweden 1917–1920, and along with Hjalmar Branting acknowledged as co-architect of Sweden's transition from quasi-absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy with equal male and female suffrage.Edén was born in...
eventually managed to carry this further into universal suffrage in 1918.
Staaff ran into sharp conflict with the conservative Swedish establishment, and became a hated figure in the Conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, pro-Monarchic
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
and anti-Democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
establishment. An intense smear campaign was launched against him, picturing him as the destroyer of Swedish tradition and society: wealthy Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
ers could even buy ash-trays shaped as his head. His staunch anti-military politics created the greatest fundraising in the Swedish history until that time, the 12m kronor coastal battleship HMS Sverige
HMS Sverige
Sverige was a Swedish Coastal defence ship during the last year of World War I and onward into the 1950s. Her cost was approximately 12 million kronor in 1912, and the entire sum was raised in public in a nationwide fundraising campaign that gained over 15 million The fundraising was done because...
where the funds where raised in a few months in 1912. Staaff had to bite the lemon, and the ship was ordered.
In 1914 Staaff stepped down from government in protest, after Conservatives had summoned a farmers' demonstration at the Royal castle's court in Stockholm, where King Gustaf V - who according to the law was supposed to stay out of politics - denounced Staaffs defence policies.
The contemporary Swedish Liberal party Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
counts him as the first among the more prominent leaders of Swedish 20th century liberalism, followed by such parliamentarians as Nils Edén, Carl Ekman
Carl Gustaf Ekman
Carl Gustaf Ekman was a Swedish politician, Member of Parliament 1911-1932 , leader of the Freeminded People's Party 1924-1932 and Prime Minister from 1926 to 1928 and again from 1930 to 1932....
, nobel prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate Bertil Ohlin
Bertil Ohlin
Bertil Gotthard Ohlin was a Swedish economist and politician. He was a professor of economics at the Stockholm School of Economics from 1929 to 1965. He was also leader of the People's Party, a social-liberal party which at the time was the largest party in opposition to the governing Social...
, Gunnar Helén
Gunnar Helén
Gunnar Helén, was a Swedish liberal politician. He was party leader of Liberal People's Party 1969-1975, Governor of Kronoberg County 1965-1970 and of Stockholm County 1977-1984....
, Per Ahlmark
Per Ahlmark
Per Axel Ahlmark is a Swedish writer and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1975 to 1978, and Minister for Employment and Deputy Prime Minister in the Swedish government from 1976 to 1978...
and Bengt Westerberg
Bengt Westerberg
Bengt Carl Gustaf Westerberg was a Swedish politician. He is the son of Carl-Erik Westerberg and his wife Barbro...
.