statsråd

Statsråd is the term used in Sweden to designate a government minister, a member of the executive who heads a government ministry. The word literally translates to “councilor of state,” but in contemporary usage it refers to the ministers who form the cabinet, or regeringen, under the leadership of the prime minister. Each statsråd is responsible for a specific policy area within the government’s remit, such as Finance, Education, or Justice, and participates in collective decision-making at cabinet meetings.

Ministers are typically drawn from the parties forming the governing coalition and are appointed by the monarch on the prime minister’s proposal. They participate in the formation and direction of government policy and remain in office as long as the government retains its mandate. Their duties include formulating policy proposals, drafting legislation and budgets, managing the agencies within their portfolio, and representing the government in parliamentary proceedings.

Accountability: The government must retain the confidence of the Riksdag (the parliament). If the government loses majority support or the prime minister resigns, ministers generally resign as a package, and a new government is formed. The term statsråd is also used in official titles for individual ministers, and the cabinet as a whole constitutes the country’s supreme executive body. The concept of statsråd exists in other Nordic countries as well, with variations in powers and constitutional arrangement.