Simple question, simple answer. But do you know it?
The Swedish election of 1956 saw a political first. What was it?
Post your guesses below and check back same time tomorrow to find out the answer.
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14 Comments
First televised debate between political party leaders?
No idea, but given Sweden’s history of progessiveness – more than 50% of those elected were female?
The parliament took longer to assemble than usual because someone lost the instructions from IKEA.
The first Swedish female candidate?
It was the first time an election survey was carried out.
Every single Member of Parliament elected was from one of the nineteen Social Democrat parties on the ballot paper.
(Actually my real guess is the same as Bernard’s)
OK, a wild guess – the first use of the postal vote.
Was it the first time anyone had realised where Sweden was?
The first election at which 18 year olds were enfranchised.
I’m pretty sure this was the year the first systematic academic survey of political opinion was made, when the same people were asked a range of questions in interviews both before and after the event and which set the marker for polling organisations everywhere since.
I think Bernard got it first time
First use of mechanical or electronic voting machines?
No idea I’m afraid. (Despite being the resident Swede!). So what’s the answer?
Niklas: TV leader debates.