Sweden abolishes military conscription

Jul 1, 2010, 16:41 GMT

Stockholm - Sweden on Thursday abolished its 100-year-old tradition of military service.

Parliament had approved the decision in a June vote. The army will now only be able to recruit volunteers.

The opposition Social Democrat, Green and Left parties voted against the move, but the centre-right government - led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt - succeeded in pushing the law through by 153 to 150 votes.

The Swedish parliament introduced conscription for all 18-year-old men in 1901.

But the numbers of those actually being conscripted had sunk over the past few years, as more young men were given dispensations.

Only around 15 per cent of those eligible in the last few years have served the 11-month period.

Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors justified the new policy by pointing to the changed security situation after the end of the Cold War.

Sweden had 750,000 men and women - from a population of 9.4 million - in reserve against a possible Soviet invasion until 1990.