1998
Left bloc · SSocial Democrats hit a 70-year low but Persson survives.
1998 infographic: Social Democrats hit a 70-year low but Persson survives.
AI-generated infographic using the page's 1998 anchors.
Highlights
- General election: On 20 September, the Social Democrats fell to 36.4% — their lowest vote share in 70 years — yet Göran Persson retained the premiership with parliamentary backing from the Left Party and the Greens.
- Västra Götaland founded: On 1 January, three western counties merged into the new Västra Götaland County, Sweden's largest region by population, with Gothenburg as its administrative seat.
- Nagano Winter Olympics: Sweden sent 99 athletes to the Winter Games in Nagano (7–22 February), competing in skiing, biathlon, and ice hockey as part of a decade of sustained winter-sport success.