Olof Palme

Sven Olof Joachim Palme {{Audio|sv-Olof_Palme.ogg|listen}} (January 30, 1927 ? February 28, 1986) was a Swedish politician. He was the leader of the Social Democrat Party from 1969 to 1986 and was Prime Minister of Sweden with a Privy Council Government from October 1969 to October 1976 and with a Cabinet Government starting in October 1982. Palme was assassinated in 1986 and was succeeded by Ingvar Carlsson.

Controversy

Palme was a controversial political figure on the international scene: his trenchant criticism of the United States for the Vietnam war; campaigning against nuclear weapons proliferation; condemnation of apartheid and advocating economic sanctions against South Africa; his support - both political and financial - for the African National Congress (ANC) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO); meeting with Fidel Castro of Cuba, all ensured that Palme had no shortage of enemies abroad. Domestically, too, his left-wing views engendered a great deal of hostility among Sweden's right-wingers.

Related Topics:
United States - Apartheid - Economic sanctions - South Africa - African National Congress - Palestine Liberation Organization - Fidel Castro - Cuba

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At the time of his death, Palme had been accused of being pro-Soviet and not safeguarding Sweden's interests. Arrangements had therefore been made for him to go to Moscow to discuss a number of contentious issues, including alleged Soviet submarine incursions into Swedish waters.

Related Topics:
Soviet - Moscow

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