But since the murder three years ago of Anna Lindh, the foreign minister, he has had no obvious successor.

ECONOMIST: The Swedish model

In 2003 one of his poems was read at the memorial service of Anna Lindh, the murdered Swedish foreign minister.

BBC: Swedish poet Transtroemer wins Nobel Literature Prize

On February 19th his foreign minister, Anna Lindh, said that the Social Democrats might decide as early as next year.

ECONOMIST: Scandinavia and the euro

The foreign minister, Anna Lindh, the Social Democrats' heir apparent, hugs and kisses the boss of Ericsson, the country's industrial flagship.

ECONOMIST: Sweden's euro referendum

Still haunted by that killing, Swedes are relieved that Anna Lindh's murderer was caught, and that he has now been sentenced, the BBC's Lars Bevanger in Stockholm says.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | Lindh killer gets life for murder