SWEDEN: Down Goes the Government

Not since 1914 has Sweden had a political crisis sharp enough to force the King to dissolve Parliament. But last week the Socialist government of Premier Tage Erlander, whose party has held power alone or as masters of a coalition almost uninterruptedly since 1932, fell by an adverse vote in the Swedish lower chamber. At issue was expansion of Sweden's welfare state, which already provides more cradle-to-grave benefits than any other European nation. Following his defeat, Erlander asked King Gustaf VI Adolf to dissolve Parliament.

Though aware he would fall, gangling (6 ft....

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