Lantmanna Party
Encyclopedia
Lantmanna Party was a political party
in Sweden
, essentially a fraction in the parliament which existed from 1867 to 1912 (though split in two 1888-1895).
The Lantmanna Party was founded in 1867, following the representation reform of 1866 which had replaced the old Parliament of the Estates
with the modern parliament
, assembled for the first time in early 1867. It was represented in the second chamber of the parliament, which was directly elected
.
The party originally did not have any clear political ideology but claimed to represent farmers and ordinary people, although it was never a real agrarian
party. Many of its first members had been members of the last House of Peasants in the old Parliament of the Estates while one of the informal leaders at the start was Count Arvid Posse
. The party was also supported by the main Swedish newspaper at the time, Dagens Nyheter
. Posse went on to become Prime Minister of Sweden
from 1880 to 1883.
In 1888 the party was split in two parties over the issue on free trade
contra protectionism
; the free trade advocates founded the Old Lantmanna Party and the protectionists founded the New Lantmanna Party. In 1895 the two parties reunited under its old name. Erik Gustaf Boström
of the Lantmanna Party (New Lantmanna Party during the split) was able to form a cabinet twice, as prime minister in 1891–1900 and again in 1902–1905.
By the turn of the century 1900, the party had evolved in a ideologically conservative way, much due to opposition against the liberals and the emerging social democrats. While the party had its base in the parliament and was formed solely by elected members of it, there was no organisation for election campaigns until 1904, when the Lantmanna Party formed the Allmänna valmansförbundet (General Elector Coalition) together with other right-wing fractions in the parliament. In 1912 the Lantmanna Party merged with another of the right-wing fractions of the parliament, the National Progress Party, to form the new Farmer and Bourgeoisie Party (Lantmanna- och borgarepartiet), which came to be known as the "andrakammarshögern" ("right-wing fraction of the second chamber"). This and the Allmänna valmansförbundet eventually evolved into the present Moderate Party
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sweden
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....
, essentially a fraction in the parliament which existed from 1867 to 1912 (though split in two 1888-1895).
The Lantmanna Party was founded in 1867, following the representation reform of 1866 which had replaced the old Parliament of the Estates
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
with the modern parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
, assembled for the first time in early 1867. It was represented in the second chamber of the parliament, which was directly elected
Direct election
Direct election is a term describing a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the person, persons or political party that they desire to see elected. The method by which the winner or winners of a direct election are chosen depends upon the...
.
The party originally did not have any clear political ideology but claimed to represent farmers and ordinary people, although it was never a real agrarian
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
party. Many of its first members had been members of the last House of Peasants in the old Parliament of the Estates while one of the informal leaders at the start was Count Arvid Posse
Arvid Posse
Count Arvid Rutger Fredriksson Posse was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1880 to 1883.Arvid Posse was born at Rosendal manor in Malmöhus County, as the son of Governor Count Fredrik Posse and Baroness Magdalena Charlotta Bennet. In 1835 he enrolled at Lund University, receiving a law degree in...
. The party was also supported by the main Swedish newspaper at the time, Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
. Posse went on to become 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...
from 1880 to 1883.
In 1888 the party was split in two parties over the issue on free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
contra protectionism
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
; the free trade advocates founded the Old Lantmanna Party and the protectionists founded the New Lantmanna Party. In 1895 the two parties reunited under its old name. Erik Gustaf Boström
Erik Gustaf Boström
Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström was a Swedish landowner and politician, who was a member of the Swedish Parliament and Prime Minister of Sweden twice . He was also known as E.G. Boström or E. Gust...
of the Lantmanna Party (New Lantmanna Party during the split) was able to form a cabinet twice, as prime minister in 1891–1900 and again in 1902–1905.
By the turn of the century 1900, the party had evolved in a ideologically conservative way, much due to opposition against the liberals and the emerging social democrats. While the party had its base in the parliament and was formed solely by elected members of it, there was no organisation for election campaigns until 1904, when the Lantmanna Party formed the Allmänna valmansförbundet (General Elector Coalition) together with other right-wing fractions in the parliament. In 1912 the Lantmanna Party merged with another of the right-wing fractions of the parliament, the National Progress Party, to form the new Farmer and Bourgeoisie Party (Lantmanna- och borgarepartiet), which came to be known as the "andrakammarshögern" ("right-wing fraction of the second chamber"). This and the Allmänna valmansförbundet eventually evolved into the present Moderate Party
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
.