1940 Swedish general election

General elections were held in Sweden on 15 September 1940.[2] The Swedish Social Democratic Party remained the largest party, winning 134 of the 230 seats in the Second Chamber of the Riksdag.[3] It is one of two general elections in Swedish history where a single party received more than half of the vote (the other occasion being 1968).

1940 Swedish general election

15 September 1940
All 230 seats to the Second Chamber of the Riksdag 116 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Per Albin Hansson Gösta Bagge Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp Party Social Democrat Moderate Centre Last election 112 44[1] 36 Seats won 134 42 28 Seat change 22 2 8 Popular vote 1,546,804 518,346 344,345 Percentage 53.8% 18.0% 12.0%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Gustaf Andersson Sven Linderot Party Liberal Communist Last election 27 5 Seats won 23 3 Seat change 4 2 Popular vote 344,113 101,424 Percentage 12.0% 3.5%
PM before election Per Albin Hansson Social Democrat Elected PM Per Albin Hansson Social Democrat

The election took place amid World War II. Sweden was the only independent, free Scandinavian state at the time. The major parties were all represented in the government cabinet. Some of the parties called for a postponement of the elections due to the war. However, Per Albin Hansson said that democratic processes ought to be respected. An observer of the election characterized the election as a "gentleman's election" free of mudslinging.[4]