With the enactment of the 1974 Instrument of Government and the inauguration of Thorbjörn Fälldin's three-party cabinet in 1976, Per Ahlmark was formally sworn in as the first to hold the office of Deputy Prime Minister.

In the governments Fälldin I and II, however, the Deputy Prime Ministership belonged to the Liberal Party despite the fact that it was the smallest of the three members.

The reason for this might be ascribed to an unwillingness on behalf of the Centre and Liberals to give this position to the Moderates, due to ideological differences.

The honorary title was awarded to one of the two spokespersons of the Green Party, the junior coalition partner of his cabinet.

With Magdalena Anderssons appointment as Prime Minister and the withdrawal of the Green Party from the government, this system ceased.