2005
Left bloc · SCyclone Gudrun devastates the south; National Day becomes a public holiday.
2005 infographic: Cyclone Gudrun devastates the south; National Day becomes…
AI-generated infographic using the page's 2005 anchors.
Highlights
- Cyclone Gudrun: On 8–9 January, the most powerful storm to hit Sweden since 1902 felled more than 75 million cubic metres of forest in the south — one of the worst environmental disasters in Swedish history. About 20 people died and 415,000 homes lost power, some for weeks.
- New copyright law: A revised copyright law took effect on 1 July, criminalising unauthorised file-sharing for the first time and providing the legal framework for the coming prosecution of The Pirate Bay.
- National Day made a public holiday: From 2005, 6 June — Sweden's National Day — became an official public holiday for the first time, replacing Whit Monday and giving Sweden a proper national celebration.