Year by year
1765-66 The father of Swedish liberalism – Anders Chydenius – succeeded in pushing a liberal press law and economic deregulation through parliament.
1809 The first parliamentary party (possibly in the world) calling itself "liberal" is founded.
1840-70 A number of liberal reforms carried through – compulsory public schooling, municipal self-government, corporate freedom, free trade and enhanced rights for women. Erik Gustaf Geijer and Lars Johan Hierta are two prominent liberals.
1885 Adolf Hedin submits proposals on industrial welfare, pensions and accident insurance.
1890 Sveriges Allmänna Rösträttsförbund (the Swedish Association for Universal Suffrage), dominated by liberals, is established.
1895 Folkpartiet – a radical party in the parliament’s second chamber – is founded.
1897 Two liberal, but slightly more right-wing, groups are established in the second chamber.
1900 The liberals in the second chamber join the new Liberala Samlingspartiet (the Liberal Party). From 1910 on, the party has members also in the first chamber. Sixten von Friesen is the new leader. The paramount issue is a franchise reform, extending the right to vote. The universal suffrage movement ceases to exist and prepares the establishment of a nationwide liberal party.
1902 "Frisinnade Landsföreningen" is founded – a nationwide organisation cooperating with the Liberal Party.
1905 Karl Staaff is elected party leader and takes part in a coalition government, in which he makes important contributions for a peaceful dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian Union.
1905-07 Staaff leads a liberal government improving the conditions for school teachers, adopting a law on mediation in labour disputes, and introducing government support to job centres.
1911-14 Karl Staaff is the head of a liberal government introducing old-age pensions, industrial welfare and increased support to health and accident insurance funds.
1917-20 Nils Edén is the premier of a government of liberals and social democrats. Important reforms are parliamentarism, universal suffrage for women and men, the eight-hour working day and Swedish membership in the Leage of Nations.
1923 Frisinnade Landsföreningen splits on the issue of prohibition of alcohol. A minority takes part in establishing Sveriges Liberala Parti (The Liberal Party of Sweden), led by Eliel Löfgren. C G Ekman is elected leader of Frisinnade Landsföreningen
1926-28 C G Ekman leads a government consisting of members of the Frisinnade as well as liberals. The coalition pushes through a secondary school reform, the Collective Agreements Act and establishes the Labour Court.
1930-32 Ekman is the head of a "Frisinnad" government, introducing government support to maternity benefits.
1934 Folkpartiet is founded by a merger of Frisinnade Landsföreningen and the Liberal Party, as well as a few minor groups.
1935 Gustaf Andersson of Rasjön is elected party leader.
1939-45 Folkpartiet takes part in a government coalition. The party succeeds in preventing serious infringements of democratic rights and initiates the liberal constitutional press law, adopted in 1949.
1944 Bertil Ohlin is elected leader. During his first ten months in office, he is Minister of trade, followed by 22 years as leader of the opposition.
1967 Sven Wedén is elected party leader.
1969 Gunnar Helén is elected party leader. During the agreements signed at Haga Palace in 1974-75, Folkpartiet contributes to reduced marginal taxes as well as a reduced and flexible retirement age.
1975 Per Ahlmark is elected party leader.
1976 A non-socialist three-party coalition government is formed, in which Folkpartiet takes part.
1978 Ola Ullsten is elected party leader. Later in 1978, he is appointed Prime Minister in a government consisting only of Folkpartiet.
1979 A new three-party government is formed.
1980 Folkpartiet and the Centre Party form a governing coalition.
1976-82 Folkpartiet takes part in four different governments. Important reforms adopted in this period are increased constitutional protection of civil rights, 1 per cent of GDP for development assistance, a law on equality between men and women, as well as the right to five weeks of paid holidays.
1983 Bengt Westerberg is elected party leader.
1989 Folkpartiet plays a role in the great tax reform, realising the party’s long-standing struggle for a true reduction of marginal taxes.
1990 Folkpartiet adds "liberalerna" – the Liberals – to its name.
1991-94 Folkpartiet liberalerna is part of a non-socialist four-party coalition. A major disability reform, a pension reform, increased freedom for radio and television, as well as greater freedom of choice in welfare services.
1995 Maria Leissner is elected party leader.
1997 Lars Leijonborg is elected party leader.
2007 Jan Björklund is elected party leader.