View source for Persson cabinet

{{Short description|Swedish government cabinet}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox government cabinet
|cabinet_name = Persson's Cabinet
|cabinet_number = 51st
|incumbent =
|jurisdiction = [[Sweden]]
|flag = Flag_of_Sweden.svg
|image = Goran persson swedish pm election rally 2006-sept-05 gothenburg closeup img1.jpg
|date_formed = 22 March 1996
|date_dissolved = 6 October 2006
|government_head = [[Göran Persson]]
|government_head_title = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] 
|state_head = [[Carl XVI Gustaf]]
|state_head_title = [[Monarchy of Sweden|Monarch]]
|current_number = 
|former_members_number = 
|total_number = 
|political_party = [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats]]
|legislature_status = [[Minority government|Minority]] (1996–1998)<br>''with confidence and supply from The Left and The Centre<!--MINORITY SPD (161), The Left (22) The Centre (27) MERELY C&S NOT IN COALITION-->''<br> 161 / 349{{spaces|em}}(46%)
{{Composition_bar/advanced
|divisionname=
|total        = 349
|boxwidth     = 174.5
|party1       = 161
|partycolor1  = {{party color|Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats}}
}}
[[Minority government|Single-party minority]] (1998–2002)<br>''with confidence and supply from The Left and Greens<!--MINORITY SPD (131), The Left (43), Greens (18) MERELY C&S NOT IN COALITION-->''<br> 131 / 349{{spaces|em}}(37%)
{{Composition_bar/advanced
|divisionname=
|total        = 349
|boxwidth     = 174.5
|party1       = 131
|partycolor1  = {{party color|Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats}}
}}<br>[[Minority government|Single-party minority]] (2002–2006)<br>''with confidence and supply from The Left and Greens ''<!--MINORITY SPD (144), The Left (30) Greens (19) MERELY C&S NOT IN COALITION-->  144 / 349{{spaces|em}}(41%)
{{Composition_bar/advanced
|divisionname=
|total        = 349
|boxwidth     = 174.5
|party1       = 144
|partycolor1  = {{party color|Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats}}
}}
|election = [[1998 Swedish general election|1998 election]]<br>[[2002 Swedish general election|2002 election]]
|last_election = 
|legislature_term = 
|budget = 
|opposition_cabinet = 
|opposition_party = [[Moderate Party]]
|opposition_leader = [[Carl Bildt]] (1998–1999)<br>[[Bo Lundgren]] (1999–2006)
|incoming_formation = 
|outgoing_formation = 
|predecessor = [[Carlsson III Cabinet|Carlsson III]]
|successor = [[Reinfeldt Cabinet|Reinfeldt]]
}}
{{Politics of Sweden}}

'''Göran Persson''' served as [[Prime Minister of Sweden]] between 22 March 1996 and 6 October 2006.  Persson took over after [[Ingvar Carlsson]], who retired as party leader and Prime Minister.  Following the [[2006 Swedish general election|2006 general election]], he and the '''Persson Cabinet''' ({{langx|sv|Regeringen Persson}}) lost power to a [[centre-right]] [[coalition government]].

== History ==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}
When [[Ingvar Carlsson]] in the fall of 1995 declared that he intended to resign as leader for the Social Democratic Party and prime minister of Sweden, deputy prime minister [[Mona Sahlin]] was the only one who accepted to run for that position. However, a scandal mainly concerning irresponsible use of her [[Riksdag]] credit card and unpaid parking tickets forced her to withdraw her candidacy that same fall. The search continued and Jan Nyman, [[Ingela Thalén]] as well as [[Göran Persson]] became the new possible candidates, but all of them declined to run when approached by the election board.

After repeatedly declining to candidate Göran Persson suddenly changed his mind, accepted and was elected new leader of the Social Democratic Party and prime minister of Sweden in March 1996. Göran Persson inherited a party with a solid representation in the parliament, in the 1994 election more than 45 percent of the voters had given his predecessor their vote. Still not leading a party with a majority of the seats in the parliament, Göran Persson relied on parliamentary support from the Centre Party when outlining his politics. He launched a series of criticized cut-back programs, defending them in a famous speech to the parliament starting with the expression "One who is in debt is not free".

He did not manage to convince the voters however and the 1998 general election became a huge setback for the Social Democratic Party, now supported by only 36,4 percent of the voters. The Moderate party leader, Carl Bildt, expressed his concerns about Göran Persson not resigning from office, as an outcome of the election. Bildt claimed that the government forming process should start all over with the Speaker of parliament selecting a prime minister based on his or her ability to form a government. He initiated a vote of no confidence, opposed by a majority formed by the Social Democratic Party as well as the Green and Left parties which were to be the new political partners. Eventually Göran Persson formed a one-party government, refusing to give seats to the Left or Green parties.

In the 2002 general election Persson gained an increase in voter support with 39,9 percent voting for his party, again the Moderate Party leader, this time Bo Lundgren, initiated a vote of no confidence targeting the whereabouts of the actual parliamentary support for Persson. This time Persson was not backed by the Green Party, received support from a minority but managed to stay in office since the Green Party refrained from voting at all. He continued his one-party government policy, but extended his co-operation with the Green and Left parties for another four-year term.

== Cabinet ministers ==
<onlyinclude>
{{Cabinet table start|hiderefcol=y}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Rosenbad|Prime Minister's Office]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
 | minister1             = [[Göran Persson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 22 March 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden|Deputy Prime Minister]]
 | minister1             = [[Lena Hjelm-Wallén]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1998
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2002
 | minister2             = [[Margareta Winberg]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister2_termend     = 31 October 2003
 | minister3             = [[Lars Engqvist]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 1 June 2004
 | minister3_termend     = 1 October 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Minister of Sports (Sweden)|Minister of Sports]]
 | minister1             = [[Bosse Ringholm]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1 November 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Rosenbad|Minister for Government Coordination]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1997
 | minister2             = [[Thage G. Peterson]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1997
 | minister2_termend     = 1998
 | minister3             = [[Pär Nuder]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 21 October 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Rosenbad|Minister for Government Coordination on European Affairs]]
 | minister1             = [[Bosse Ringholm]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1 January 2005
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Rosenbad|Minister for Arms Exports Issues]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1997
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Justice (Sweden)|Ministry of Justice]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Justice (Sweden)|Minister for Justice]]
 | minister1             = [[Laila Freivalds]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 21 september 2000
 | minister2             = [[Lena Hjelm-Wallén]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 21 September 2000
 | minister2_termend     = 16 October 2000
 | minister3             = [[Thomas Bodström]] 
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 16 October 2000
 | minister3_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister of Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Democracy]], [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Protection]] <br/>and [[Deputy Minister of Justice (Sweden)|Deputy Minister of Justice]]
 | minister1             = [[Britta Lejon]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1998
 | minister1_termend     = 2000
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister of Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Democracy]], [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Protection]], <br/>[[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Youth]] and [[Deputy Minister of Justice (Sweden)|Deputy Minister of Justice]]
 | minister1             = [[Britta Lejon]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 2000
 | minister1_termend     = 15 October 2002
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister of Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Democracy]], [[Minister for Integration (Sweden)|Minister for Integration]], <br/>[[Minister for Gender Equality (Sweden)|Minister for Gender Equality]] and [[Minister for Sports (Sweden)|Minister for Sports]]
 | minister1             = [[Mona Sahlin]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister of Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Democracy]], [[Minister for Integration (Sweden)|Minister for Integration]], <br/>[[Minister for Gender Equality (Sweden)|Minister for Gender Equality]] and [[Deputy Minister of Justice (Sweden)|Deputy Minister of Justice]]
 | minister1             = [[Jens Orback]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] 
 | minister1             = [[Lena Hjelm-Wallén]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 7 October 1998
 | minister2             = [[Anna Lindh]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister2_termend     = 11 September 2003†
 | minister3             = [[Jan O. Karlsson]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 11 September 2003
 | minister3_termend     = 10 October 2003
 | minister4             = [[Laila Freivalds]] 
 | minister4_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister4_termstart   = 10 October 2003
 | minister4_termend     = 21 March 2006 
 | minister5             = [[Bosse Ringholm]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister5_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister5_termstart   = 21 March 2006
 | minister5_termend     = 27 March 2006 
 | minister6             = [[Carin Jämtin]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister6_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister6_termstart   = 27 March 2006
 | minister6_termend     = 24 April 2006    
 | minister7             = [[Jan Eliasson]] 
 | minister7_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister7_termstart   = 24 April 2006
 | minister7_termend     = 6 October 2006 
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for International Development Cooperation (Sweden)|Minister for International Development Cooperation]]
 | minister1             = [[Pierre Schori]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 14 September 1999
 | minister2             = [[Maj-Inger Klingvall]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 14 September 1999
 | minister2_termend     = 16 November 2001
 | minister3             = [[Jan O. Karlsson]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 7 January 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 10 October 2003
 | minister4             = [[Carin Jämtin]]
 | minister4_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister4_termstart   = 10 October 2003
 | minister4_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Justice (Sweden)|Minister for Migration]]
 | minister1             = [[Pierre Schori]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 14 September 1999
 | minister2             = [[Maj-Inger Klingvall]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 14 September 1999
 | minister2_termend     = 16 November 2001 
 | minister3             = [[Jan O. Karlsson]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 7 January 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 10 October 2003 
 | minister4             = [[Barbro Holmberg]]
 | minister4_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister4_termstart   = 10 October 2003
 | minister4_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Nordic Cooperation]] and [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Trade]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2002
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Defence (Sweden)|Ministry of Defence]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Defence (Sweden)|Minister for Defence]]
 | minister1             = [[Thage G. Peterson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 1 February 1997
 | minister2             = [[Björn von Sydow]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1 February 1997
 | minister2_termend     = 30 September 2002
 | minister3             = [[Lena Hjelm-Wallén]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 30 September 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 21 October 2002
 | minister4             = [[Pär Nuder]]
 | minister4_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister4_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister4_termend     = 3 November 2002
 | minister5             = [[Leni Björklund]]
 | minister5_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister5_termstart   = 3 November 2002
 | minister5_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry of Health and Social Affairs]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Head of the Ministry for Health and Social Affairs]]
 | minister1             = [[Margot Wallström]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 22 March 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
 | minister2             = [[Anders Sundström]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 1998
 | minister3             = [[Maj-Inger Klingvall]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 1998
 | minister3_termend     = 1998
 | minister4             = [[Lars Engqvist]] 
 | minister4_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister4_termstart   = 1998
 | minister4_termend     = 1 October 2004
 | minister5             = [[Berit Andnor]] 
 | minister5_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister5_termstart   = 1 October 2004
 | minister5_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Social Security (Sweden)|Minister for Social Security]]
 | minister1             = [[Maj-Inger Klingvall]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 22 March 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 14 September 1999
 | minister2             = [[Ingela Thalén]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 14 September 1999
 | minister2_termend     = 10 October 2002
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Public Health and Social Services]]
 | minister1             = [[Morgan Johansson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Children, the Elderly and Equality (Sweden)|Minister for Children and Family]]
 | minister1             = [[Berit Andnor]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Health and the Elderly]]
 | minister1             = [[Ylva Johansson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Nordic Cooperation]]
 | minister1             = [[Berit Andnor]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Communications (Sweden)|Ministry of Communications]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | minister1             = [[Ines Uusmann]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 1998 
 | title                 = [[Minister for Infrastructure (Sweden)|Minister of Communications]]
 | minister2             = [[Björn Rosengren (politician)|Björn Rosengren]]  <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 6 October 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 31 December 1998 
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Ministry of Finance]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | minister1             = [[Erik Åsbrink]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 22 March 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 12 April 1999
 | minister2             = [[Bosse Ringholm]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 12 April 1999
 | minister2_termend     = 21 October 2004
 | title                 = [[Minister for Finance (Sweden)|Minister for Finance]]
 | minister3             = [[Pär Nuder]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister3_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Finance (Sweden)|Minister for Taxes]] and [[Minister for Housing (Sweden)|Minister for Housing]]
 | minister1             = [[Thomas Östros]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 22 March 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Public Administration]] and [[Minister for Housing (Sweden)|Minister for Housing]]
 | minister1             = [[Lars Engqvist]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1998
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Minister for Public Administration]] and [[Minister for Housing (Sweden)|Minister for Housing]]
 | minister1             = [[Lars-Erik Lövdén]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1999
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Financial Markets]] and [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Minister for International Economy]]
 | minister1             = [[Gunnar Lund]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Financial Markets]] and [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Minister for Public Administration]]
 | minister1             = [[Sven-Erik Österberg]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Education and Research (Sweden)|Ministry of Education]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Education (Sweden)|Minister for Education]]
 | minister1             = [[Carl Tham]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 1998 
 | minister2             = [[Thomas Östros]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 21 October 2004 
 | minister3             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister3_party        = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister3_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Culture]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1 January 2005
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Schools (Sweden)|Minister for Schools]]
 | minister1             = [[Ylva Johansson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
 | minister2             = [[Ingegerd Wärnersson]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 16 January 2002
 | minister3             = [[Thomas Östros]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 16 January 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 21 October 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Schools (Sweden)|Minister for Schools]]
 | minister1             = [[Ibrahim Baylan]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Education and Research (Sweden)|Minister for Research]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 13 September 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Education and Research (Sweden)|Minister for Preschool Education]], [[Minister for Education and Research (Sweden)|Minister for Adult Education]] <br/>and [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Youth]]
 | minister1             = [[Lena Hallengren]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Church Affairs]]
 | minister1             = [[Lena Hallengren]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 13 September 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry for Rural Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry of Agriculture]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Rural Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry of Agriculture]] 
 | minister1             = [[Annika Åhnberg]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Rural Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry of Agriculture]] and [[Minister for Gender Equality (Sweden)|Minister for Gender Equality]]
 | minister1             = [[Margareta Winberg]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1998
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2002
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Rural Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry of Agriculture]] and [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Protection]]
 | minister1             = [[Ann-Christin Nykvist]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Employment (Sweden)|Ministry of Employment]]'''}}<ref name="government.se">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/2151|title=Contact the Ministry of the Environment|access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref>
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Employment (Sweden)|Minister for Employment]] and [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Nordic Cooperation]]
 | minister1             = [[Margareta Winberg]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
 | minister2             = [[Björn Rosengren (politician)|Björn Rosengren]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Employment (Sweden)|Minister for Employment]] and [[Minister for Gender Equality (Sweden)|Minister for Gender Equality]]
 | minister1             = [[Ulrica Messing]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of the Interior (Sweden)|Ministry of the Interior]]'''}}<ref name="government.se"/>
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister of the Interior (Sweden)|Minister of the Interior]] 
 | minister1             = [[Jörgen Andersson (politician)|Jörgen Andersson]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 1998
 | minister2             = [[Lars Engqvist]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 1998 
 | minister3             = [[Lars-Erik Lövdén]] 
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 1998
 | minister3_termend     = 1998 
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Integration (Sweden)|Minister for Integration]], [[Minister for Sports (Sweden)|Minister for Sports]], [[Minister for Health and Social Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Youth]] <br/>and [[Minister for Financial Markets (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Protection]]
 | minister1             = [[Leif Blomberg]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 2 March 1998†
 | minister2             = [[Lars Engqvist]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 1998
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of Culture (Sweden)|Ministry of Culture]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Minister for Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Culture]]
 | minister1             = [[Marita Ulvskog]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 13 September 2004
 | minister2             = [[Pär Nuder]] <small>(Acting)</small>
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 13 September 2004
 | minister2_termend     = 21 October 2004
 | minister3             = [[Leif Pagrotsky]] 
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister3_termend     = 31 December 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of Culture (Sweden)|Minister for Church Affairs]]
 | minister1             = [[Marita Ulvskog]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1996
 | minister1_termend     = 13 September 2004
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry for Integration (Sweden)|Minister for Integration]], [[Minister for Sports (Sweden)|Minister for Sports]] and [[Ministry of Health and Social Affairs|Minister for Youth]]
 | minister1             = [[Ulrica Messing]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 1998
 | minister1_termend     = 2000
}}
{{Cabinet table ministry|'''[[Ministry of the Environment and Energy (Sweden)|Ministry of the Environment]]'''}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of the Environment and Energy (Sweden)|Minister of the Environment]]
 | minister1             = [[Anna Lindh]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 7 October 1994
 | minister1_termend     = 7 October 1998
 | minister2             = [[Kjell Larsson]]
 | minister2_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister2_termstart   = 7 October 1998
 | minister2_termend     = 15 October 2002
 | minister3             = [[Lena Sommestad]]
 | minister3_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister3_termstart   = 15 October 2002
 | minister3_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of the Environment and Energy (Sweden)|Minister of the Environment]], [[Minister for Housing (Sweden)|Minister for Housing]] and [[Minister for Energy (Sweden)|Minister for Energy]]
 | minister1             = [[Mona Sahlin]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 21 October 2004
 | minister1_termend     = 6 October 2006
}}
{{Cabinet table minister
 | title                 = [[Ministry of the Environment (Sweden)|Deputy Minister of the Environmenτ]]
 | minister1             = [[Lena Sommestad]]
 | minister1_party       = Swedish Social Democratic Party
 | minister1_termstart   = 16 January 2002
 | minister1_termend     = 21 October 2002
}}
|}
</onlyinclude>

== Policies of the Cabinet ==

{{Empty section|date=November 2014}}

==Controversies and public perception==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}

===Suspected ballot rigging===
After the 2002 elections, electoral workers in the [[Stockholm]] area expressed concerns about how Social Democratic campaign workers had collected large numbers of voting cards from voters and voted on their behalf. To collect large quantities of voting cards and vote in such a way is unconstitutional and therefore gained some initial media attention. The county and city of Stockholm, governed by a coalition led by the [[Moderate Party]], became subject to change of leadership as a result of the election and the criticism was quickly silenced. The circumstances of the suspected ballot rigging was never investigated. There have been other cases that have led to evictions at 2002 elections for ballot rigging by Social democratic party members working in the election offices. Many reports of other ballot rigging have also been announced throughout the country by other parties but in lack of proof none has gone to court.

===Handling of the tsunami disaster===
During 2005 a scandal erupted as a result of widespread discontent with the lack of government aid to Swedes who fell victims to the notorious [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|tsunami disaster]], killing hundreds of Swedish tourists in December 2004. The criticism emerged early since the government refused to give clearance to prepared Swedish military rescue planes to aid in the rescue efforts in Asia. The planes were left stranded on Swedish airfields and Swedish tourists, in many cases severely injured, had to wait for the few crowded regular flights that were available back home to Sweden. A committee initiated an investigation in 2005 to shed some light on what really happened during the Christmas of 2004 and if anyone ever had noticed the early reports from the Swedish military intelligence offices. The scandal escalated into a case for the Swedish standing committee of constitution inqueries (constitutional court) as it became evident that Swedish government officials either lied or refused to answer properly to the questions asked by the investigators. In early 2006 the scandal reached its climax as top ministers, including the prime minister, were interrogated under trial-like circumstances broadcast live on Swedish television. There has also been suspicious deletion of communication traffic registers and e-mails regarding the time of this event. A directive was changed to delete this kind of data after a shorter time and after it had been done the directive was once again revised to its original writing. After the election and a new cabinet come to be in power. Backup tapes of the deleted information has now been found stored in a vault in the cellar.

===Persson accused of threatening TV4===
During the live broadcast interrogations the CEO of the largest privately held Swedish TV-channel, [[Jan Scherman]], claimed that Prime Minister [[Göran Persson]] threatened him during the election campaign in 2002. In Sweden, the Swedish Television, [[Sveriges Television|SVT]], with the other two large TV-channels, SVT1 and SVT2, is connected to the government and Social Democrats hold key positions among the board of directors. [[Björn Rosengren (politician)|Björn Rosengren]], Social Democrat, former Minister of Enterprise and close friend of Göran Persson, has rapidly gained an influential position in the Swedish media company [[Modern Times Group|MTG]] which in turn owns TV-channels and newspapers such as [[Metro International]].

===Defamation campaign in 2006===
In 2006 an extensive e-mail based defamation campaign primarily targeting the family of Swedish leading opposition politician [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]] was revealed in Swedish media. The content of the letters written were rumours about irregularities or illegal actions claimed to have been performed by Fredrik Reinfeldt himself or his close relatives. According to computer specialists the source of the campaign had been tracked down to computers located at the Social Democratic HQ in central Stockholm. Initially spokespersons of the Social Democratic Party denied all involvement in the defamation but were later forced to confess that one of their employees had written the letters as evidence became overwhelming. The case was reported to the police by the Moderate Party but was closed a few days later since it was considered a private law-issue.

===The Pirate Bay affair===
The raid of 31 May 2006 on The Pirate Bay ISP PRQ is thought to be a direct result of the justice minister [[Thomas Bodström]]. As a result, he is now the subject of an investigation by the Constitutional Committee. This type of 'interference' in the functioning of independent authorities such as the police, called 'ministerstyre', is by Swedish law prohibited. Media requested to see e-mails that could be relevant to the matter but the 700 of the 900 e-mails requested were denied on the basis that they were top secret declaration. Previously, the government said that the matter would be open for public review. When it was asked why the e-mails had been declared top secret Thomas Bodström said that they were covered by the secrecy declaration which is determined by the government.

===Minister of foreign affairs resigns===
In the aftermaths of criticism following on the tsunami disaster, the harshly criticised Swedish minister of foreign affairs, [[Laila Freivalds]], managed to maintain her office. However, in 2006 another embarrassing scandal erupted with its roots in Denmark where paintings of the Muslim prophet Muhammed were published during the fall of 2005. A Swedish right-wing political newspaper decided to publish them as well on the Internet edition of their publication, the webpage however was quickly closed down by the ISP after intervention from the Swedish Security Service and the Swedish office of foreign affairs. The close down became subject to much debate and some journalists compared it to the censorship of anti-German articles during WWII. Mrs. Freivalds denied at first all involvement in the case, but was forced to confess as official reports clearly pointed out her central role in the closing of the webpage. The political pressure became too much and Prime Minister [[Göran Persson]], flanked by Mrs. Freivalds herself, chose to briefly declare the resignation of his minister of foreign affairs under a short press conference. That Freivalds did not declare the expected news herself, despite the fact that she was obviously present on the press conference, quickly spurred discussions about whether she resigned voluntarily or actually got dismissed by the prime minister.

==References==
<div style="font-size: 90%">
{{reflist}}
</div>

==External links==
*[http://www.sweden.gov.se/ The Government and the Government Offices of Sweden]
*[http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2031/a/70233 Statement of Government Policy] (6 October 2006)

{{s-start}}
{{succession box| before=[[Carlsson III Cabinet|Third cabinet of Ingvar Carlsson]] | title=[[List of cabinets of Sweden|Cabinet of Sweden]] | years=1996–2006 |after=[[Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Cabinets of Sweden}}
{{Swedish Social Democratic Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabinet of Goran Persson}}
[[Category:1996 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Cabinets of Sweden|Persson, Goran]]
[[Category:Politics of Sweden]]
[[Category:1990s in Sweden]]
[[Category:2000s in Sweden]]
[[Category:Cabinets established in 1996]]
[[Category:Cabinets disestablished in 2006]]