General Electoral League (1904–1938) Moderate Party

an election poster party in 1914 stating military defense comes first.

the party founded on 17 october 1904 in restaurant called runan in stockholm. intention start campaign organization in support of group of conservatives had emerged in riksdag. during 19th century conservatives had organised in riksdag there no party support them. swedish right threatened rise of swedish social democratic party (founded in 1889) , liberals (1902). party called general electoral league (swedish: allmänna valmansförbundet).

at first party nationalist , staunchly conservative. importance of strong defense underlined , other societal institutions embraced party monarchy , state of law. party held protectionist view towards economy; tariffs supported interventionist economical measures such agricultural subsidies. in defence policy crisis in 1914, overturned parliamentary liberal government, party sided king gustav stopped short of accepting right-wing government royal appointment, instead opting independent-conservative war cabinet under hjalmar hammarskjöld overturned in favor of liberal-social democratic majority coalition government , breakthrough of parliamentary rule, albeit reluctantly embraced right.

arvid lindman (often called admiral ) became influential in party , served 2 terms prime minister of sweden, before , after enactment of universal suffrage. in 1907 proposed universal male suffrage parliament , in 1912 formally elected leader. party voted against universal suffrage , party again voted against women s right vote. because party in minority sweden able grant right vote all, pushed through liberals , social democrats (the left), against objections of right. although not 1 of founders of party , not prominent ideologist, lindman , achievements leader appreciated being of great importance new party. leadership marked consolidation of swedish right, , transforming party modern, effective, political movement. lindman pragmatic politician, without losing principles. formidable negotiator , peace-broker. respected, fiercest political opponents , when resigned , left parliament in 1935, leader of social democrats, per albin hansson, expressed honest on battle lines .

from beginning of 20th century social democracy , labour movement rose replace liberalism major political force radical reforms. moderate party intensified opposition socialism during leadership of lindman—the importance of continuance , strengthening national business cornerstones. @ same time, recent social issues gained significant political attention; appeasing working class, party hoped reduce threat of revolutionary tendencies. during governments led lindman, several reforms social progress made, , first government initiated public state pension.

the second cabinet of arvid lindman in 1928

in 1920s swedish right started move towards classical liberal view on economic issues, under influence of liberal economist gustav cassel, economic downturn following great depression frustrated possible liberal transition of economic policy. before occurred party gained greatest success yet 29.4% in general election of 1928, called cossack election, on anti-socialist programme. government later formed party did not accept concept of market economy, continued protectionist policy generous financial aid. government began complete regulation of agriculture. production associations, objective administer regulations , run monopolies on imports, established during period. made corporate control of swedish economy unsurpassed since popularisation of liberalism @ end of 19th century. government of lindman fell in 1930 after social democrats , freeminded people s party had blocked proposition raised customs duty on grain.

the 1930s saw party in conflict on how relate rising threat of national socialism , fascism. loosely affiliated youth organisation, national youth league of sweden (swedish: sveriges nationella ungdomsförbund) openly pro-nazi , set uniformed fighting groups combat political enemies on streets. mother party did not development, lindman stating pro-nazi views not accepted in party, , in 1933 national youth league separated party. while party set new youth league, came called moderate youth league or young swedes (currently largest youth league in sweden in terms of membership), core of old 1 (in spite of districts, such young swedes-gothenburg joining new one) set own party—the national league of sweden—which fought elections openly pro-nazi party , temporarily gained parliamentary representation in shape of 3 rightist mps.