A non-binding referendum on introduction of the euro was held in Sweden on 14 September 2003.[1] The majority voted not to adopt the euro, and thus Sweden decided in 2003 not to adopt the euro for the time being. Had they voted in favour, the plan was that Sweden would have adopted the euro on 1 January 2006.[2]
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Do you think that Sweden should introduce the euro as currency? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Eurozone_participation.svg/301px-Eurozone_participation.svg.png)
- European Union member states (special territories not shown)
- 20 in the eurozone1 in ERM II, with an opt-out (Denmark)5 not in ERM II, but obliged to join the eurozone on meeting the convergence criteria (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden)
- Non–EU member states
The ballot text was "Do you think that Sweden should introduce the euro as currency?" (Swedish: Anser du att Sverige skall införa euron som valuta?). Sweden in Europe was the main umbrella group campaigning for a Yes vote. The No vote campaign was led by two organisations, representing left (Folkrörelsen Nej till EU ) and right wing politicians respectively. The political parties were divided, with the Centre Party, Left Party and Green Party being against, and the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberal People's Party being for. The Social Democrats did not take a position due to internal disagreements.
Background
editSweden joined the European Union in 1995 and its accession treaty has since obliged it to join the euro. However, one of the requirements for eurozone membership is two years' membership of ERM II, and Sweden has chosen not to join this mechanism and as a consequence tie its exchange rate to the euro ±2.25%. While there is government support for membership, all parties have pledged not to join without a referendum in favour of doing so.
Debates
edit2003 Swedish euro referendum debates | |||||||||||
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Date | Time | Organizers | Moderators | P Present I Invitee N Non-invitee | |||||||
S | M | L | KD | V | C | MP | Refs | ||||
4 juni 2003 | Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees | Mats Knutson | P | P Bo Lundgren |
P Lars Leijonborg |
P Alf Svensson |
P Ulla Hoffmann |
P Maud Olofsson |
P Peter Eriksson |
[3] |
Results
editThe voter turnout was 82.6%, and the result was 55.9% against and 42.0% in favour.[1] A majority of voters in Stockholm voted in favour of adopting the euro (54.7% "yes", 43.2% "no"). In Scania and Stockholm counties the "yes" votes (49.3%) outnumbered the "no" votes (48.5%), although the invalid and blank votes resulted in no majority for either option. In all other parts of Sweden, the majority voted no.[4][5] Among municipalities, a majority of those in western Scania, and in Stockholm, voted yes. Kungsbacka and Haparanda also voted "yes". All other municipalities voted "no".
Summary of the referendum |
Votes | Percent |
---|---|---|
Yes | 2,453,899 | 42.0 |
No | 3,265,341 | 55.9 |
Blank votes | 121,073 | 2.1 |
Total | 5,840,313 | 100 |
Invalid votes | 3,475 | |
Eligible voters | 7,077,502 | |
Turnout | 5,843,788 | 82.6 |
Source: Nationalencyklopedin[6]
See also: Swedish Election Authority[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Folkomröstningar 1922-2003" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
- ^ "Heikensten: The Riksbank and the euro". Sveriges Riksbank. 2003-06-17. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- ^ EMU-omröstningen 2003 - Partiledardebatt i juni 2003 - Hela debatten, retrieved 2024-02-01
- ^ "Sweden. Euro Referendum 2003". Electoral Geography. 10 September 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
- ^ "Riksöversikten" (in Swedish). Valmyndigheten. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
- ^ "Folkomröstning: Tabell: Folkomröstningar i Sverige". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 May 2011. (subscription required)
- ^ "Nationella folkomröstningar" (in Swedish). Swedish Election Authority. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2011.