August–September 1887 Swedish general election

General elections were held in Sweden in August and September 1887. Although they resulted in a victory for the pro-free trade bloc, 22 of its members were later expelled from parliament, giving the protectionist members a majority.^[1]

Background

Tariffs had become a major political issue in Sweden during the mid-1880s. In 1885 a campaign for tariffs to be introduced on grain was rejected by both chambers of the

Riksdag. The following year the issue was debated again, and whilst the Second Chamber approved their introduction, the First Chamber rejected them. The matter was settled when a joint sitting of the two chambers rejected the initiative.^[1]

In 1887 a tariff on rye was voted down 70–68 in the First Chamber, which went on to vote down all other tariffs.

Oscar II dissolved Parliament with the support of Prime Minister Robert Themptander, and called fresh elections.^[1] The early elections in March and April had resulted in a majority for the pro-free trade bloc. Following the spring elections, some MPs attempted to delay a decision on tariffs by proposing that a commission of inquiry be set up. Although this was supported by Themptander, Parliament rejected the idea.^[1]

Despite the early elections, the scheduled August and September elections still went ahead.[1]

Results

Only 22.2% of the male population aged over 21 was eligible to vote, and the turnout of 35.9% was far lower than the 48.1% for the spring elections.^[2]


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Free traders	50,959	53.15	136	+34
	Protectionists	44,915	46.85	85	–27
Total		95,874	100.00	221	+7

Registered voters/turnout		278,039	–
Source: Mackie & Rose^[3]

Aftermath

Following the elections Olof Larsson, a pro-free trade MP from Stockholm, was discovered to owe 11 kronor and 58 öre in unpaid municipal taxes.^[4] This was in violation of the Parliament Act, and as a result disqualified Larsson and all others elected on the same list as him. This amounted to a total of 22 pro-free trade MPs, all of whom were expelled from Parliament and replaced by protectionist MPs, who now had a majority in both chambers.^[5]

As a result, the pro-free trade government resigned despite attempts by King

Oscar II to persuade ministers not to.^[5] A new pro-tariff government was formed, and implemented tariffs on a wide range of goods.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Leif Lewin (1989) Ideology and Strategy: A Century of Swedish Politics Cambridge University Press, p46
^ Lewin, p329
^ Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, pp404–406
^ Lewin, pp46–47
^ ^a ^b ^c Lewin, p47

[LL-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Leif Lewin (1989) Ideology and Strategy: A Century of Swedish Politics Cambridge University Press, p46

[2] Lewin, p329

[3] Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, pp404–406

[4] Lewin, pp46–47

[L2-5] Lewin, p47

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Elections and referendums in Sweden
General elections	1866 1869 1872 1875 1878 1881 1884 1887 (Mar–Apr) 1887 (Aug–Sep) 1890 1893 1896 1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 (Mar) 1914 (Sep) 1917 1920 1921 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1958 1960 1964 1968 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026
Local elections	1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1919 1920 1922–23 1926–27 1930–31 1934–35 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026
European elections	1995 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024
Referendums	1922 1955 1957 1980 1994 2003