Misplaced Pages

Carl Bildt: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 13:30, 3 December 2002 editGabbe (talk | contribs)Administrators34,330 editsm link to Swedish Prime Ministers← Previous edit Latest revision as of 16:19, 30 December 2024 edit undoJohnpacklambert (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers601,628 edits External links: Rem duplicate catTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Swedish politician}}
'''Carl Bildt''' is a ] politician. He was born on ], ] in ].
{{for|the Swedish diplomat and historian|Carl Bildt (1850–1931)}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = Carl Bildt under den politiska Almedalsveckan 2016.jpg
|caption = Bildt in 2016
|office = ]
|monarch = ]
|deputy = ]
|term_start = 4 October 1991
|term_end = 7 October 1994
|predecessor = ]
|successor = ]
|office1 = ]
|primeminister1 = ]
|term_start1 = 6 October 2006
|term_end1 = 3 October 2014
|predecessor1 = ]
|successor1 = ]
|office2 = ]
|term_start2 = 14 December 1995
|term_end2 = 17 June 1997
|predecessor2 = ''Office established''
|successor2 = ]
| office3 = ]
| monarch3 = ]
| primeminister3 = ]
| term_start3 = 23 August 1986
| term_end3 = 4 October 1991
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| monarch4 = ]
| primeminister4 = ]<br>]
| term_start4 = 7 October 1994
| term_end4 = 4 September 1999
| predecessor4 = ]
| successor4 = ]
|office5 = Leader of the ]
|term_start5 = 23 August 1986
|term_end5 = 4 September 1999
|predecessor5 = ]
|successor5 = ]
| office6 = ]<br />for ]
| term_start6 = 1979
| term_end6 = 2001
|birth_name = Nils Daniel Carl Bildt
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|07|15|df=y}}
|birth_place = ], Sweden
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = ]
|spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Kerstin Zetterberg|1974|1975|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|Mia Bohman|1984|1997|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|]|1998}}
}}
|children = 3
|relatives =] (great-great grandfather)<br />]
|alma_mater = ]
|signature = Carl Bildt Signature.svg
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Sweden}} ]
| branch = ] ]
}}


'''Nils Daniel Carl Bildt''' (born 15 July 1949) is a Swedish politician and diplomat who served as ] from 1991 to 1994. He led the ] from 1986 to 1999, appearing at its lead candidate in four general elections, before his appointment as ] under Prime Minister ] from 2006 to 2014. Bildt first entered the ] in 1979, holding a seat until 2001. A member of the ], he is a great-great grandson of Baron ], who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 1888 to 1889.<ref name=":ElganScobbie42">{{Cite book|last1=Elgán|first1=Elisabeth|last2=Scobbie|first2=Irene|title=Historical Dictionary Of Sweden|date=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ|isbn=9781442250710}} p. 42</ref>
He was the leader of the Moderate Party in Sweden from ] to ]. During that time he was also the ] from ] to ] (A post his great-great-grandfather ] had held from ] to ]). Afterwards, he was active in the ] conflict from ] to ] serving as the as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Balkans.


Bildt had been noted internationally as a mediator in the ], serving as the ]'s Special Envoy to the ] from June 1995, co-chairman of the ] in November 1995 and ] from December 1995 to June 1997, immediately after the ]. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the ]'s Special Envoy for the ]. Since 2021, Bildt also has been the ]'s Special Envoy for the ] (ACT Accelerator).<ref> ] (WHO), press release of March 31, 2021.</ref>
=== External links ===

*
==Early life and education==

Bildt was born on 15 July 1949 in ],<ref name="Europarl">{{cite web|title=Carl Bildt|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/webnp/webdav/shared/ICMs/2013/Afet%20SEDE%20Feb%202013/supporting%20documents/sede210213cvbildt_EN%5B1%5D.pdf|website=The Swedish Government|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> to an old ]-Norwegian-Swedish ], the ], traditionally domiciled in ].{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} His grandfather's grandfather, ], was a Conservative politician and diplomat, long-time Ambassador to the ] and Prime Minister of Sweden 1888–1889,<ref name=":ElganScobbie42" /> mainly remembered for his ] trade policies.

Bildt's father Daniel Bildt (1920–2010) was a major in the reserves of the now defunct ] and a bureau director in the now defunct Civil Defense Board's Education Bureau. Daniel Bildt married Kerstin Andersson-Alwå in 1947. Carl Bildt's brother, Nils, was born in 1952. Bildt was married to Kerstin Zetterberg from 1974 to 1975; to Mia Bohman (daughter of former Moderate party leader and Minister of Economy, ]) from 1984 to 1997; and, since 1998, to ]. Bildt has three children; two from his second marriage and one from his third marriage.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

Bildt attended ].<ref name="Europarl"/>

==Early career==

In May 1968, Bildt opposed the ] by leftist political forces and co-founded the ] group which went on to win the Student Union elections in Stockholm for a number of years. He served as chairman of the FMSF ], a centre-right student organisation, in the early 1970s, and also chaired European Democrat Students, bringing together like-minded centre-right student organisations from across Europe.

When the non-socialist formed government in 1976, Bildt served as the head of the Policy Coordinating Office in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and close collaborator to the party leader and Minister of Economy ]. Bildt became a ] in 1979, although he served instead as State Secretary for Policy Coordination in the reformed non-socialist government after that election.

As an MP in the early eighties, he became noted as an incisive and combative debater on foreign affairs. He was a member of the Submarine Defence Commission investigating the 1982 ] in the Stockholm archipelago and naval base areas, and often found himself pitted against prime minister ]. Bildt was elected leader of the Moderate Party in 1986, succeeding ].

In ], the Social Democrats were defeated by a four-party coalition led by Bildt's Moderate Party.

==Prime minister==

{{BLP unreferenced section|date=September 2015}}
{{Conservatism in Sweden|Politicians}}

On 4 October 1991, Bildt became the first conservative prime minister in Sweden in 61 years, leading a four-party coalition government. The policies of his government aimed at giving Sweden a "new start" in the middle of a rapidly mounting economic crisis caused by a speculation bubble in housing, focusing on privatising and de-regulating the economy in order to improve the conditions for businesses.

Long a champion of European integration and Sweden's participation in this, negotiating membership in the European Union was a priority for the Bildt premiership. The preceding Social Democratic government had, as part of an emergency economic crisis package in the autumn of 1990, done a sudden U-turn, abandoned its previous opposition and in the summer of 1991 submitted a formal application for membership in the EU.

Benefiting also from his close links with German ] ], Bildt was able to initiate and conclude membership negotiations with the EU in record time, signing the ] at the ] in Corfu on 23 June 1994. The accession was supported by a ] in November, and Sweden entered the EU as full member on 1 January 1995, thus fulfilling a key part of the platform of the Bildt government.

By that time his governing coalition had lost its majority in the ], in spite of his Moderate party making slight gains.

The economic program of the government was focused primarily on a series of structural reforms aiming at improving competitiveness and improving growth. Economic reforms were enacted, including ], liberalizing markets for telecommunications and energy, privatizing publicly owned companies and health care, contributing to substantially liberalizing the Swedish economy.

These reforms were highly controversial at the time, and the government also had to deal with a rapid increase in unemployment as well as public deficits during 1991 and 1992. The period was marked by a severe economic crisis.<ref>Between 1990 and 1994, per capita income declined by approximately 10% as per {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627060024/http://hdr.undp.org/docs/publications/ocational_papers/oc26c.htm |date=27 June 2007 }}</ref> These problems were reinforced by the economic crisis in other European countries and the crisis within the ] in 1992. As a result, Sweden in November 1992 was forced to abandon its policy of a fixed exchange rate and allow the Swedish crown to float freely. As part of the effort to handle the economic crisis, the government was able to conclude an agreement with the Social Democratic opposition on some of its expenditure-cutting measures.

By 1994 the economy was registering strong growth, and the deficits were declining, although unemployment was still at levels higher than in 1991.

Prior to becoming prime minister, Bildt had been severely anti-] and a strong supporter of the three Baltic nations, and during his period as PM devoted considerable efforts to trying to assist the three newly-independent Baltic states in handling their immediate challenges in the form of the withdrawal of ex-Soviet forces and strategic installations, as well as deciding on sensitive issues of citizenship. In this he worked closely together with the leaders of the three countries as well as with the Russian foreign minister ].

His government also had to handle a large increase in refugee flows from primarily the war in Bosnia, defending a liberal approach against the anti-immigration ] party that had entered parliament in 1991.

Bildt was an early champion of the Internet and information technologies. He led the first IT Commission in 1994, and in that year also had the first exchange of emails between two heads of government with ] ].

In 1992, he had the reform of private schools under contract and the abolition of the school map adopted, reforms that favored the ] of education.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://monde-diplomatique.de/artikel/!5532367 | title=Schwedens umstrittene Schulreform }}</ref>

The government's effectiveness was sometimes hampered by in-fighting, most memorably over the construction of the ], which led to the departure of the leader of the Centre Party Olof Johansson from the government, paving the way for the government to take the decision to approve the construction of the link.

Bildt continued to serve as leader of the Moderate party – and thus of the opposition – until 1999, when he was succeeded as party leader by ].

==Balkan conflict==

] before peace talks in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in October 1995]]

] at ] in Stockholm on 15 May 2001]]

After his term as prime minister, Bildt was active as a mediator in the ] conflict, serving as the ] Special Envoy to Former Yugoslavia from June 1995, co-chairman of the ] that led to the ] in November 1995, and ] from December 1995 to June 1997 immediately after the ]. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Balkans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/conf/2003/031016_bxl/cv-bildt.htm|title=NATO Who's who?: Carl Bildt|website=www.nato.int|access-date=2018-11-30}}</ref>

] unilaterally ] from ] on 17 February 2008, without the approval of the UN Security Council, and Sweden ] on 4 March 2008.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/10358/a/99714 |title=Sweden recognises the Republic of Kosovo |publisher=] |date=2008-03-04 |access-date=2008-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305191825/http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/10358/a/99714 |archive-date=5 March 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 8 March 2008, Bildt became the first foreign minister to officially visit Kosovo after it declared its independence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexis.com/results/enhdocview.do?docLinkInd=true&ersKey=23_T27122601492&format=GNBFI&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=0_T27122615935&backKey=20_T27122615936&csi=282801&docNo=1|title=SWEDEN: MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS CARL BILDT TO VISIT KOSOVO, MACEDONIA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203064329/https://www.nexis.com/results/enhdocview.do?docLinkInd=true&ersKey=23_T27122601492&format=GNBFI&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=0_T27122615935&backKey=20_T27122615936&csi=282801&docNo=1|archive-date=3 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Minister for Foreign Affairs==

] in Washington, D.C., on 24&nbsp;October 2006.]]

] in Washington, D.C., on 29&nbsp;April 2011.]]

On 6 October 2006, Bildt was appointed as ] in the newly formed ]. This was seen by many as a surprising move. Not only had Bildt already served both as prime minister and as leader of the Moderate Party, but he and Reinfeldt had previous antipathy.<ref name=DN>{{cite news|first=Christina |last=Kellberg |title=Berättelsen om Fredrik Reinfeldt |work=] |date=18 September 2006 |access-date=4 July 2009 |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2390&a=573767 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002553/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2390&a=573767 |archive-date=1 October 2007 |df=dmy }}</ref> He retained this post following the ].

During his time in office, Bildt was widely credited with steering efforts to set up the EU's ] in 2008.<ref>Marja Novak (September 1, 2008),  '']''.</ref><ref name="ft.com">Richard Milne (June 4, 2014), '']''.</ref> When Sweden held the rotating ] in 2009, he chaired the sessions of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council.<ref name="nytimes.com">] and Stephen Castle (July 6, 2009), '']''.</ref> For several years, he was widely seen as a candidate to become the first ] under the new rules established by the ];<ref>Simon Taylor (September 27, 2006), '']''.</ref><ref name="nytimes.com"/> instead, the role went to ].

Bildt later supported the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedishwire.com/politics/9022-sweden-backs-up-nato-request-on-libya |title=Sweden backs up NATO request on Libya |publisher=Swedishwire |access-date=2 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321105016/http://www.swedishwire.com/politics/9022-sweden-backs-up-nato-request-on-libya |archive-date=21 March 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 29 March, the government approved the deployment of ] multirole jet fighters to ] to enforce the no-fly zone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/32886/20110329/|agency=The Local|date=29 March 2011|title=Government yes to Gripen deployment}}</ref>

Following the ]s, the '']'' and other news media considered Bildt as a potential candidate to succeed Ashton as High Representative;<ref name="ft.com"/><ref> '']'', August 27, 2014.</ref> this time, the position went to ].

Bildt lost his post after the ], and moved on to become a board member of the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Byström|first1=Max|title=Bildt får nytt uppdrag|url=http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/bildt-far-toppjobb_4091129.svd|access-date=17 December 2014|date=11 November 2014|language=sv}}</ref>

=== Turkey ===

{{Main|Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey–European Union relations}}

Bildt was as foreign minister in 2007 an active supporter for Turkey to join the EU. He called ] a "true center of European history" and called ] "undoubtedly the most significant European revolutionary of the last century" in 2004. Bildt's campaign for Turkey's EU membership was controversial in central Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/11/news/sweden.php|title=Top Swedish official backs Turkey for EU|date=11 Dec 2006|website=]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015125225/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/11/news/sweden.php|archive-date=15 October 2007|access-date=17 Nov 2019}}</ref>

EU membership of Turkey was hindered by its government not recognizing Cyprus, an EU member along with reservations from the ], ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/world/europe/23iht-ankara.4.6789285.html|title=European nations urge Turkey to stay on EU course|date=2007-07-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In November 2014 Bildt was criticised for having written an opinion piece in '']'' newspaper where ] was described as being "on the right track" despite the persecution of Kurds and political opponents and jailed journalists in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/4dWrEe|title=Stå rakryggad mot Erdogan i dag, Bildt|website=Aftonbladet|date=7 November 2013 |language=sv|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>

===South Ossetian conflict===

After the ], Bildt wrote on his blog that the Russian rationale for its intervention, concern for the welfare of its expatriates in the ], had similarities with the rationale for the annexation of ].<ref name=sudet>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8281990.stm|title=Georgia 'started unjustified war'|work=]|date=30 September 2009}}</ref> Bildt called ]n independence "a joke", and said it would be supported only by a "miserable" lot of countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/155c31fa-745f-11dd-bc91-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1|title=Kremlin told that move could backfire|newspaper=]|date=27 August 2008}}</ref>

==Activities==
===Work in private sector===

{{BLP one source|section|date=September 2015}}

After leaving his position as leader of the Moderate Party in 1999, other than engaging in international issues, Bildt took positions in the private sector and positions with international ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bruegel.org/author/carl-bildt/|title=Carl Bildt {{!}} Bruegel|date=3 September 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-23}}</ref> His positions in think tanks included serving as the first non-US member on the Board of Trustees of the ] in ], and on the Advisory Board of the ] in London. He was a member of the board of the European Policy Centre in ], the ] in London, and the International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Affairs in New York.

Bildt served as non-executive director of the Baltimore-based US assets management company ] He served as chairman of the board of ] and chairman of the public affairs consultancy ] AB, and board member of the IT consultancy HiQ AB. He was chairman of Nordic Venture Network, which brought Nordic high-tech VC firms together in an informal network.

In 2000, Bildt joined the ]'s board of directors, a company with oil interests in ] and ] – the seven years with the Lundin Group that followed made Bildt a wealthy man.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819093517/https://www.thelocal.se/20111222/38102 |date=19 August 2017 }}. The Local, 22 December 2011</ref>

From March to November 2000, Bildt was part of an independent panel – together with ] and ] – to advise the ]'s Director General ] on the organization's future.<ref> ], press release of November 09, 2000.</ref>

In 2002, Bildt joined the board of directors of ], a financial company primarily with holdings in ].

He left his positions on all these boards upon becoming Foreign Minister in October 2006

===Bosnian war mediator criticisms===

Though decorated for his services in the Bosnian conflict and its immediate aftermath by Great Britain, France, and Germany, his mediation of the conflict and aftermath was castigated as well as celebrated.

Bildt opposed any military intervention and criticized the former British prime minister ] in 1993 for calling ] to intervene against the Bosnian Serb forces, which led to the '']'' describing Bildt and other EU leaders as "robotic political pygmies" and their acceptance of the ongoing genocide as "shameful".<ref name="AP">{{cite news|first=Per|last=Ahlmark|author-link=Per Ahlmark|url=http://www.dn.se/ledare/kolumner/du-vet-ju-hur-carl-ar|title=Du vet ju hur Carl är|work=]|date=24 October 2006|language=sv|access-date=28 March 2009}}</ref>

Following Bildt's appointment as the EU special envoy to Yugoslavia, Tom Warrick from the ] described Bildt as "dangerously misinformed about his own job description" and largely ignorant about the region.<ref name="D-SD">{{cite news|first=Dilsa|last=Demirbag-Sten|url=http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=719362|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614215230/http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=719362|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 June 2011|title=Oförebildtlig|newspaper=]|date=16 October 2006|language=sv}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/bosnet/1996/96-01-07_1.bos.html|title=BosNet Digest V5 No. 11|date=7 January 1996|publisher=Hri.org|access-date=12 June 2012}}</ref> '']'' criticized Bildt for a nonchalant attitude towards the ] when over 8,000 ]s were killed,<ref name="D-SD"/> and described him as being burdened with a reputation for accepting Bosnian Serb claims of good behavior at face value and overlooking evidence of atrocities against civilians.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/opinion/mr-bildt-s-responsibility-in-bosnia.html?ref=carlbildt|title=Mr. Bildt's Responsibility in Bosnia|newspaper=]|date=17 December 1995}}</ref>

===Middle East===

Bildt has been questioned for his role as a member of the International Advisory Council of the ], a group with ties to the ] pushing for an ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/kultur/story/0,2789,918495,00.html|title=Vad Carl Bildt gjort för kriget|newspaper=]|first=Mikael|last=Nyberg|date=27 October 2006|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124095825/http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/kultur/story/0,2789,918495,00.html|archive-date=24 January 2007|df=dmy-all}}.</ref>

On 8 April 2008, during his visit in ] and the ], Bildt gave an interview to Swedish state radio, where he responded to a question on whether it would be possible to strike a peace deal without the involvement of the Palestinian group ], which remained under international boycott. He responded that the Palestinian ]-backed government could deal with Israel, in the same way that it was possible for the Israeli government to make peace with Fatah over the objections of the former Israeli prime minister ], who, similarly to Hamas opposed a two-state deal. Israeli officials issued very strongly worded condemnations of this, describing it as "horrible and stupid" and an example of "chutzpah" and "complete ignorance of the Middle East", on the grounds that they saw it as comparing Hamas and Netanyahu as equals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207649975283&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |first=Gil |last=Hoffman |title=Swedish FM likens Netanyahu to Hamas |date=10 April 2008 |access-date=28 March 2009 |work=] }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2012, Bildt said he saw no problem with exporting ] to ]. According to Bildt, "Would the situation in the world be better if they had bought French manufactured ones instead?" Bildt called friendly Saudi Arabia as a "family business" and said that he sees Saudi Prince ] "quite regularly".<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia a 'family business': Bildt |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20120404/40080 |work=The Local |date=4 April 2012 |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122051747/https://www.thelocal.se/20120404/40080 |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2015, Bildt criticized Sweden's foreign minister ] for damaging Saudi-Swedish relations. Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabia's flogging of Saudi blogger and activist ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Clash between Sweden and Saudi Arabia escalates as ambassador is withdrawn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/11/clash-sweden-saudi-arabia-escalates-ambassador-withdrawn-human-rights |work=The Guardian |date=11 March 2015}}</ref>

===Annexation of Crimea===

], 11 April 2014.]]

].]]

Bildt, together with Polish Foreign Minister ], was one of the main architects of the 2013 ].<ref name=pew>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21590585-success-eastern-partnership-depends-ukraine-playing-east-against-west|title=Playing East against West: The success of the Eastern Partnership depends on Ukraine|newspaper=]|date=23 November 2013}}</ref>

During ], Carl Bildt has been criticized in Swedish media for ignoring and downplaying the issues with the Ukrainian ] party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kälvemark|first=Torsten|title=Svoboda luktar fascism|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/article18491483.ab|access-date=9 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=Croneman>{{cite news|last=Croneman|first=Johan|title=Johan Croneman: SVT har inte haft en självständig utrikes-analytiker på flera decennier|url=http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/johan-croneman-svt-har-inte-haft-en-sjalvstandig-utrikes-analytiker-pa-flera-decennier|access-date=9 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=4 March 2014|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Svensson|first=Niklas|title=Bildt: "Det kunde varit lite mindre underläge"|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/bildt-det-kunde-varit-lite-mindre-underlage/|access-date=9 March 2014|newspaper=Expressen|date=9 March 2014 |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kärrman|first=Jens|title=Bildt pressades om Svoboda|url=http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/bildt-pressades-om-svoboda|access-date=14 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=14 March 2014|language=sv}}</ref> Johan Croneman at '']'' has also condemned Bildt for pushing Prime Minister ] to rephrase himself after having expressed understanding of the Russians' concerns about the situation.<ref name=Croneman/>

In a public message on ], Bildt compared ] to ], writing that he was "sitting on foreign soil begging a foreign army to give his country to him". This has been described as "undiplomatic" by Christer Jönsson, professor in Political Science at the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bildts Quisling-tweet förvånar|url=http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/bildts-quisling-tweet-forvanar_3327116.svd|access-date=9 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=4 March 2014 |language=sv}}</ref> Norwegian politician ] also criticized Bildt's statement, saying that it showed "ignorance of history" and that it "does not contribute to solving the conflict".<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Leonard|title=Bildt får skarp kritik för Quisling-tweet|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article18485396.ab|access-date=9 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=5 March 2014 |language=sv}}</ref> Torsten Kälvemark from '']'' has criticized Bildt's statement as well. "Our Foreign Minister is ignorant, because it was actually ]'s legal head of state, ], that during the war sat on foreign soil and hoped that he would with help from the British get back his country", he remarked.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kälvemark|first=Torsten|title=Så sprids fördomar om krisen på Krim|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/article18649269.ab|access-date=3 April 2014|newspaper=]|date=2 April 2014 |language=sv}}</ref> The culture editorial of the '']'' newspaper where Torsten Kälvemark works has repeatedly been criticized since for being a tool of Russian propaganda in Sweden.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aftonbladet Kultur kritiseras för att sprida Putins världsbild|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=6604477|access-date=26 June 2017|newspaper=]|date=7 January 2017|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020153401/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=6604477|archive-date=20 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aftonbladets Ukraina-journalistik väcker frågor|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=478&artikel=5995983s|access-date=26 June 2017|newspaper=]|date=7 January 2017|language=sv}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

], professor at ], stated that "Carl Bildt's threatening rhetoric should in this context be regarded as extremely destructive", in an article about the Ukrainian crisis. Hedlund also suggested that Bildt should take a "time-out", and that progress can only be made through dialogue with Russia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hedlund|first=Stefan|title=Enda vägen framåt är dialog med Ryssland|url=http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/enda-vagen-framat-ar-dialog-med-ryssland_3354194.svd|access-date=22 September 2015|newspaper=]|date=12 March 2014|language=sv}}</ref>

In a radio interview with channel ] on 15 March, Bildt stated that he considers the ] illegal, and "invalid, no matter which way people vote". He continued his refusal to answer questions about ], saying that he "won't describe what that party is". His overall comment on the new regime in ] was that it was a "reasonable and democratic government" and that he does not want to "play along with Russian propaganda".<ref>{{cite web|title=Bildt: Crimea referendum illegal|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=5810626|access-date=15 March 2014|publisher=]|date=15 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324053031/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=5810626|archive-date=24 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In early 2015, a study made at the ] stated that Bildt had been a target of ] and that he was "regularly smeared in Russian state-controlled media". The reason was described to be Bildt's involvement in the ] program and that the project was perceived as a threat by the Russian government.<ref name=DN-FOI>{{cite news|last1=Sundberg|first1=Marit|title=FOI: Så försökte Ryssland smutskasta Bildt|url=http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/foi-sa-forsokte-ryssland-smutskasta-bildt|access-date=12 March 2015|publisher=]|date=12 March 2015|language=sv}}</ref><ref name=Franke15>{{cite book|last1=Franke|first1=Ulrik|title=War by non-military means: Understanding Russian information warfare|date=2015|publisher=Försvarsdepartementet/Ministry of Defence|location=Sweden|url=http://foi.se/Global/Press%20och%20nyheter/War%20by%20non-military%20means.pdf|access-date=12 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319001452/http://foi.se/Global/Press%20och%20nyheter/War%20by%20non-military%20means.pdf|archive-date=19 March 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In September 2015, Bildt visited ], where he argued that the EU should provide more financial support to Ukraine.<ref name=reuters-20150914>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/09/14/europeans-not-grasping-the-importance-of-ukraine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915061554/http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/09/14/europeans-not-grasping-the-importance-of-ukraine/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2015|title=Europeans 'not grasping' the importance of Ukraine|author=John Lloyd|work=Reuters|date=14 September 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

==Internet activities==

Bildt was an early pioneer among politicians of using the Internet for communicating. On 4 February 1994, he sent an email message to US president ], which was the first publicly known electronic message sent between two ]. In the message he praised Clinton's decision to end the ].<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210183215/http://www.bildt.net/index.asp?artid=263 |date=10 February 2007 }}, bildt.net; accessed 22 September 2015.</ref> In the same year, he also started a weekly ] which was active until 2005. He is an active blogger, starting his first blog in February 2005. His current blog, started in January 2007, is one of the most widely read political blogs in Sweden.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

On 30 May 2007, Bildt officially opened a "Swedish embassy" in the ] '']''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Simmons|first=Carl|url=http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____16345.aspx|title=Sweden opens virtual embassy 3D-style|publisher=Sweden.se|date=30 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116033105/http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____16345.aspx|archive-date=16 November 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The embassy, called "Second House of Sweden", is a virtual replica of ], the Swedish embassy building in ] During Bildt's time as Foreign Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened a channel on ] which has been active since early 2008. He maintains a personal ] feed in English with approximately 780,000 subscribed followers. By 2013, an annual ] survey showed him as the best connected world leader.<ref> '']'', July 24, 2013.</ref> As of 2014, Bildt has served as Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726193157/https://www.ourinternet.org/#commission |date=26 July 2017 }}, ourinternet.org; accessed 22 September 2015.</ref>

==Life after politics==

In mid-May 2015, Bildt was appointed to Ukraine's International Advisory Council on Reforms. The group consisting of several foreign advisors to President ], aims to improve security and economy in the country which has been ravaged by armed conflict in its Eastern part.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/swedens-carl-bildt-advises-ukraine-president-russian-group-190520357.html|publisher=]|title=Sweden's Carl Bildt advises Ukraine President and Russian group|agency=]|location=Stockholm|date=18 May 2015|access-date=28 May 2015}}</ref> On 14 May 2015, Bildt was also appointed as an advisor to Russian-controlled investment group ].<ref> Taps Ex-Swedish Foreign Minister And Kremlin Critic As Adviser, 15 May 2015; retrieved 22 September 2015.</ref>

Bildt served as Chair of the ] that concluded its two-year work and produced its report in June 2016. In 2016, he joined international law firm ] as a Senior Policy Advisor in the firm's global Public Policy and Government Affairs practice.<ref> ], press release of May 19, 2016.</ref>

Bildt also writes monthly columns for international syndication organization '']''.<ref>https://www.project-syndicate.org/columnist/carl-bildt</ref>

Following the ] and the election of ] as Prime Minister Bildt revealed Kristersson had approached him offering to once again make Bildt Minister for Foreign Affairs in ]. Bildt declined the offer, citing he does not like to do the same thing twice.<ref>https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/O88zGq/bildt-tackade-nej-till-att-bli-minister</ref>

===Non-profit organizations===
* Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), Member of the International Leadership Council (since 2022)<ref> Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), press release of 6 July 2022.</ref>
* ], Member (since 2016)
* ], Member of the Coordinating Committee (since 2016)<ref> ].</ref>
* ], Member of the International Advisory Board<ref> ].</ref>
* ], Member of the Berggruen Network<ref> ].</ref>
* ] (CER), Member of the Advisory Board<ref> ] (CER).</ref>
* ], Member<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117215105/http://www.clubmadrid.org/miembro/carl-bildt/ |date=17 January 2020 }} ].</ref>
* ] (ECFR), Co-Chair<ref> ] (ECFR).</ref>
* Friends of Europe, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref> Friends of Europe.</ref>
* ], Member of the International Advisory Board<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002215302/https://www.globsec.org/about/international-advisory-board/ |date=2 October 2018 }} ].</ref>
* ] (ICG), Member of the Board of Trustees<ref> ] (ICG).</ref>
* ] (IISS), Member of the Council
* Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII), Member of the Board of Directors<ref> Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII).</ref>
* ] (MSC), Member of the Advisory Council<ref> ] (MSC).</ref>
* ], Member of the Board of Trustees<ref> ].</ref>
* ] (SRC), Member of the International Advisory Board<ref name="International Advisory Board"> ] (SRC).</ref>
* ], Deputy Chair of the European Group<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403090216/https://trilateral.org/download/files/TC%20MEMBERSHIP%20LIST%20(MASTER%2026%20MARCH%202021).pdf |date=3 April 2021 }} ].</ref>
* ], Senior Adviser<ref name="International Advisory Board"/>
* ], Member of the Honorary Board<ref> ].</ref>
* Yalta European Strategy (YES), Member of the Board<ref> Yalta European Strategy (YES).</ref>

==Controversy==

On 9 April 2021, the anniversary of the ], Bildt tweeted that the ] were stronger than ] and ]. His tweet provoked severe backlash, both from the public, and politicians, notably from Norwegian Minister of Culture ], saying that he "had hoped our closest neighbour would be more sympathetic towards who this day is reflected by Norwegians and Norwegian Jews".<ref>, '']'', 9 April 2021</ref> Bildt stated that his intention was to commemorate the events of the occupation, and that what he tweeted was historically correct. He also added that people have read an assumption between the lines.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/OQdwk3/kraftige-reaksjoner-etter-bildt-tweet-paa-invasjonsdagen | title= Severe backlash following Bildt-tweet about the occupation day | publisher= ] | date= 9 April 2021 | accessdate= 10 April 2021 | language= Norwegian}}</ref>

==Distinctions==

*] {{flagicon|Sweden}} ],12th size on chain (2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/monarkinhovstaterna/ordnarochmedaljer/medaljer/medaljer/sokmedalj.4.30963a1811be3fda3ab800012080.html?medaljar=0&medaljtyp=0&medaljnamn=Bildt |publisher=] |title=Sök ordens- och medaljförläningar |trans-title=Search for orders and medals |access-date=2022-02-17 |language=sv |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217122900/https://www.kungahuset.se/monarkinhovstaterna/ordnarochmedaljer/medaljer/medaljer/sokmedalj.4.30963a1811be3fda3ab800012080.html?medaljar=0&medaljtyp=0&medaljnamn=Bildt |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*] {{flagicon|France}} ], Commander
*] {{flagicon|UK}} ], Honorary Knight Commander<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2009/DEP2009-2154.doc |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-07-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054124/http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2009/DEP2009-2154.doc |archive-date=1 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
*] {{flagicon|Germany}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Greece}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Italy}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Poland}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Lithuania}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Latvia}} ], Commander Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Estonia}} ], Grand Cross
*] {{flagicon|Norway}} ], Grand Cross (1 July 1992)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Bildt&type=&aarstall= |publisher=] |website=www.kongehuset.no |title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer |trans-title=Awards of medals and medals |access-date=2022-02-17 |language=no}}</ref>
*] {{flagicon|Ukraine}} ], Second Class
*Bildt has an ] from the ].
*Bildt is an honorary member of the ], and contributes to its publications.<ref name="IICC">{{cite web|title=UOK – Upplysning om kommunismen|url=http://www.upplysningomkommunismen.se/?page=english|publisher=Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism|access-date=19 October 2009}}</ref>
*] (2015)

==Bibliography==

*{{cite book |last=Bildt |first=Carl |title=Hallänning, svensk, europé |year=1991 |publisher=Bonnier |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-34-51204-7}}
*{{cite book |last=Bildt |first=Carl |title=Den enda vägen |year=1994 |publisher=Moderata samlingspartiet |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-85816-09-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Bildt |first=Carl |title=Uppdrag fred |year=1997 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-1-300324-0}}
* Bildt, Carl. (Stockholm 1998) Peace Journey. The Struggle for Peace in Bosnia. (in English) London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson. {{ISBN|0297841319}}
*{{cite book |last=Bildt |first=Carl |title=Den nya oredans tid |year=2019 |publisher=Albert Bonniers Förlag |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9789100186265}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{Commons}}
* , Bildt's Swedish-language blog
* , Bildt's English-language micro blog
* , official website (inactive)
* – Bildt's English-language blog (inactive)
* {{YouTube|user=Utrikesdepartementet|title=Bildt and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs}}.
* , ''The Local''
*

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the ]|years=1986–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1986–1991}}
{{s-aft|after=]|rows=2}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1991–1994}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1994–1999}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=2006–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-diplomatic}}
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1995–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Prime Ministers of Sweden}}
{{Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt}}
{{BosniaHR}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bildt, Carl}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 30 December 2024

Swedish politician For the Swedish diplomat and historian, see Carl Bildt (1850–1931).
Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Carl Bildt
Bildt in 2016
Prime Minister of Sweden
In office
4 October 1991 – 7 October 1994
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
DeputyBengt Westerberg
Preceded byIngvar Carlsson
Succeeded byIngvar Carlsson
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
6 October 2006 – 3 October 2014
Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded byJan Eliasson
Succeeded byMargot Wallström
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
In office
14 December 1995 – 17 June 1997
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byCarlos Westendorp
Leader of the Opposition
In office
23 August 1986 – 4 October 1991
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Prime MinisterIngvar Carlsson
Preceded byUlf Adelsohn
Succeeded byIngvar Carlsson
In office
7 October 1994 – 4 September 1999
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Prime MinisterIngvar Carlsson
Göran Persson
Preceded byIngvar Carlsson
Succeeded byBo Lundgren
Leader of the Moderate Party
In office
23 August 1986 – 4 September 1999
Preceded byUlf Adelsohn
Succeeded byBo Lundgren
Member of the Riksdag
for Stockholm Municipality
In office
1979–2001
Personal details
BornNils Daniel Carl Bildt
(1949-07-15) 15 July 1949 (age 75)
Halmstad, Sweden
Political partyModerate
Spouses
Kerstin Zetterberg ​ ​(m. 1974; div. 1975)
Mia Bohman ​ ​(m. 1984; div. 1997)
Anna Maria Corazza ​(m. 1998)
Children3
RelativesGillis Bildt (great-great grandfather)
Bildt family
Alma materStockholm University
Signature
Military service
AllegianceSweden Sweden
Branch/service Swedish Army

Nils Daniel Carl Bildt (born 15 July 1949) is a Swedish politician and diplomat who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994. He led the Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, appearing at its lead candidate in four general elections, before his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt from 2006 to 2014. Bildt first entered the Riksdag in 1979, holding a seat until 2001. A member of the Bildt family, he is a great-great grandson of Baron Gillis Bildt, who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 1888 to 1889.

Bildt had been noted internationally as a mediator in the Yugoslav wars, serving as the European Union's Special Envoy to the Former Yugoslavia from June 1995, co-chairman of the Dayton Peace Conference in November 1995 and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from December 1995 to June 1997, immediately after the Bosnian War. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Balkans. Since 2021, Bildt also has been the World Health Organization's Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT Accelerator).

Early life and education

Bildt was born on 15 July 1949 in Halmstad, Halland, to an old Danish-Norwegian-Swedish noble family, the Bildt family, traditionally domiciled in Bohuslän. His grandfather's grandfather, Gillis Bildt, was a Conservative politician and diplomat, long-time Ambassador to the German Empire and Prime Minister of Sweden 1888–1889, mainly remembered for his protectionist trade policies.

Bildt's father Daniel Bildt (1920–2010) was a major in the reserves of the now defunct Halland Regiment and a bureau director in the now defunct Civil Defense Board's Education Bureau. Daniel Bildt married Kerstin Andersson-Alwå in 1947. Carl Bildt's brother, Nils, was born in 1952. Bildt was married to Kerstin Zetterberg from 1974 to 1975; to Mia Bohman (daughter of former Moderate party leader and Minister of Economy, Gösta Bohman) from 1984 to 1997; and, since 1998, to Anna Maria Corazza. Bildt has three children; two from his second marriage and one from his third marriage.

Bildt attended Stockholm University.

Early career

In May 1968, Bildt opposed the occupation of the Student Union Building by leftist political forces and co-founded the Borgerliga Studenter – Opposition '68 group which went on to win the Student Union elections in Stockholm for a number of years. He served as chairman of the FMSF Confederation of Swedish Conservative and Liberal Students, a centre-right student organisation, in the early 1970s, and also chaired European Democrat Students, bringing together like-minded centre-right student organisations from across Europe.

When the non-socialist formed government in 1976, Bildt served as the head of the Policy Coordinating Office in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and close collaborator to the party leader and Minister of Economy Gösta Bohman. Bildt became a Member of Parliament in 1979, although he served instead as State Secretary for Policy Coordination in the reformed non-socialist government after that election.

As an MP in the early eighties, he became noted as an incisive and combative debater on foreign affairs. He was a member of the Submarine Defence Commission investigating the 1982 incursions of foreign submarines in the Stockholm archipelago and naval base areas, and often found himself pitted against prime minister Olof Palme. Bildt was elected leader of the Moderate Party in 1986, succeeding Ulf Adelsohn.

In 1991, the Social Democrats were defeated by a four-party coalition led by Bildt's Moderate Party.

Prime minister

This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately.
Find sources: "Carl Bildt" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article is part of a series on
Conservatism in Sweden
Ideologies
Principles
History
Intellectuals
Politicians
Commentators
PartiesActive

Defunct

Organisations
MediaActive

Former

Related topics


On 4 October 1991, Bildt became the first conservative prime minister in Sweden in 61 years, leading a four-party coalition government. The policies of his government aimed at giving Sweden a "new start" in the middle of a rapidly mounting economic crisis caused by a speculation bubble in housing, focusing on privatising and de-regulating the economy in order to improve the conditions for businesses.

Long a champion of European integration and Sweden's participation in this, negotiating membership in the European Union was a priority for the Bildt premiership. The preceding Social Democratic government had, as part of an emergency economic crisis package in the autumn of 1990, done a sudden U-turn, abandoned its previous opposition and in the summer of 1991 submitted a formal application for membership in the EU.

Benefiting also from his close links with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Bildt was able to initiate and conclude membership negotiations with the EU in record time, signing the Treaty of Accession at the EU summit in Corfu on 23 June 1994. The accession was supported by a referendum in November, and Sweden entered the EU as full member on 1 January 1995, thus fulfilling a key part of the platform of the Bildt government.

By that time his governing coalition had lost its majority in the September 1994 elections, in spite of his Moderate party making slight gains.

The economic program of the government was focused primarily on a series of structural reforms aiming at improving competitiveness and improving growth. Economic reforms were enacted, including voucher schools, liberalizing markets for telecommunications and energy, privatizing publicly owned companies and health care, contributing to substantially liberalizing the Swedish economy.

These reforms were highly controversial at the time, and the government also had to deal with a rapid increase in unemployment as well as public deficits during 1991 and 1992. The period was marked by a severe economic crisis. These problems were reinforced by the economic crisis in other European countries and the crisis within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992. As a result, Sweden in November 1992 was forced to abandon its policy of a fixed exchange rate and allow the Swedish crown to float freely. As part of the effort to handle the economic crisis, the government was able to conclude an agreement with the Social Democratic opposition on some of its expenditure-cutting measures.

By 1994 the economy was registering strong growth, and the deficits were declining, although unemployment was still at levels higher than in 1991.

Prior to becoming prime minister, Bildt had been severely anti-Soviet Union and a strong supporter of the three Baltic nations, and during his period as PM devoted considerable efforts to trying to assist the three newly-independent Baltic states in handling their immediate challenges in the form of the withdrawal of ex-Soviet forces and strategic installations, as well as deciding on sensitive issues of citizenship. In this he worked closely together with the leaders of the three countries as well as with the Russian foreign minister Andrei Kozyrev.

His government also had to handle a large increase in refugee flows from primarily the war in Bosnia, defending a liberal approach against the anti-immigration New Democracy party that had entered parliament in 1991.

Bildt was an early champion of the Internet and information technologies. He led the first IT Commission in 1994, and in that year also had the first exchange of emails between two heads of government with US President Bill Clinton.

In 1992, he had the reform of private schools under contract and the abolition of the school map adopted, reforms that favored the privatization of education.

The government's effectiveness was sometimes hampered by in-fighting, most memorably over the construction of the Øresund Bridge, which led to the departure of the leader of the Centre Party Olof Johansson from the government, paving the way for the government to take the decision to approve the construction of the link.

Bildt continued to serve as leader of the Moderate party – and thus of the opposition – until 1999, when he was succeeded as party leader by Bo Lundgren.

Balkan conflict

Bildt (right) and Richard Holbrooke before peace talks in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in October 1995
Bildt meeting former US President Bill Clinton at Grand Hotel in Stockholm on 15 May 2001

After his term as prime minister, Bildt was active as a mediator in the Balkans conflict, serving as the European Union Special Envoy to Former Yugoslavia from June 1995, co-chairman of the Dayton Peace Conference that led to the Dayton Peace Accords in November 1995, and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from December 1995 to June 1997 immediately after the Bosnian War. From 1999 to 2001, he served as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Balkans.

Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, without the approval of the UN Security Council, and Sweden recognised it on 4 March 2008. On 8 March 2008, Bildt became the first foreign minister to officially visit Kosovo after it declared its independence.

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Bildt with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C., on 24 October 2006.
Bildt with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, D.C., on 29 April 2011.

On 6 October 2006, Bildt was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the newly formed cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt. This was seen by many as a surprising move. Not only had Bildt already served both as prime minister and as leader of the Moderate Party, but he and Reinfeldt had previous antipathy. He retained this post following the 2010 general election.

During his time in office, Bildt was widely credited with steering efforts to set up the EU's Eastern Partnership in 2008. When Sweden held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2009, he chaired the sessions of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council. For several years, he was widely seen as a candidate to become the first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy under the new rules established by the Treaty of Lisbon; instead, the role went to Catherine Ashton.

Bildt later supported the 2011 military intervention in Libya. On 29 March, the government approved the deployment of JAS 39 Gripen multirole jet fighters to Libya to enforce the no-fly zone.

Following the 2014 European elections, the Financial Times and other news media considered Bildt as a potential candidate to succeed Ashton as High Representative; this time, the position went to Federica Mogherini.

Bildt lost his post after the 2014 general election, and moved on to become a board member of the International Crisis Group.

Turkey

Main articles: Accession of Turkey to the European Union and Turkey–European Union relations

Bildt was as foreign minister in 2007 an active supporter for Turkey to join the EU. He called Istanbul a "true center of European history" and called Kemal Atatürk "undoubtedly the most significant European revolutionary of the last century" in 2004. Bildt's campaign for Turkey's EU membership was controversial in central Europe.

EU membership of Turkey was hindered by its government not recognizing Cyprus, an EU member along with reservations from the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

In November 2014 Bildt was criticised for having written an opinion piece in Dagens industri newspaper where Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was described as being "on the right track" despite the persecution of Kurds and political opponents and jailed journalists in Turkey.

South Ossetian conflict

After the 2008 South Ossetia war, Bildt wrote on his blog that the Russian rationale for its intervention, concern for the welfare of its expatriates in the Near Abroad, had similarities with the rationale for the annexation of Sudetenland. Bildt called South Ossetian independence "a joke", and said it would be supported only by a "miserable" lot of countries.

Activities

Work in private sector

This biography of a living person relies on a single source. You can help by adding reliable sources to this article. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

After leaving his position as leader of the Moderate Party in 1999, other than engaging in international issues, Bildt took positions in the private sector and positions with international think tanks. His positions in think tanks included serving as the first non-US member on the Board of Trustees of the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, and on the Advisory Board of the Centre for European Reform in London. He was a member of the board of the European Policy Centre in Brussels, the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, and the International Advisory Board of the Council on Foreign Affairs in New York.

Bildt served as non-executive director of the Baltimore-based US assets management company Legg Mason, Inc. He served as chairman of the board of Teleopti and chairman of the public affairs consultancy Kreab AB, and board member of the IT consultancy HiQ AB. He was chairman of Nordic Venture Network, which brought Nordic high-tech VC firms together in an informal network.

In 2000, Bildt joined the Lundin Group's board of directors, a company with oil interests in Ethiopia and Sudan – the seven years with the Lundin Group that followed made Bildt a wealthy man.

From March to November 2000, Bildt was part of an independent panel – together with Jean Peyrelevade and Lothar Späth – to advise the European Space Agency's Director General Antonio Rodotà on the organization's future.

In 2002, Bildt joined the board of directors of Vostok Nafta, a financial company primarily with holdings in Gazprom.

He left his positions on all these boards upon becoming Foreign Minister in October 2006

Bosnian war mediator criticisms

Though decorated for his services in the Bosnian conflict and its immediate aftermath by Great Britain, France, and Germany, his mediation of the conflict and aftermath was castigated as well as celebrated.

Bildt opposed any military intervention and criticized the former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1993 for calling NATO to intervene against the Bosnian Serb forces, which led to the Sunday Times describing Bildt and other EU leaders as "robotic political pygmies" and their acceptance of the ongoing genocide as "shameful".

Following Bildt's appointment as the EU special envoy to Yugoslavia, Tom Warrick from the Coalition for International Justice described Bildt as "dangerously misinformed about his own job description" and largely ignorant about the region. The New York Times criticized Bildt for a nonchalant attitude towards the Srebrenica genocide when over 8,000 Bosniaks were killed, and described him as being burdened with a reputation for accepting Bosnian Serb claims of good behavior at face value and overlooking evidence of atrocities against civilians.

Middle East

Bildt has been questioned for his role as a member of the International Advisory Council of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, a group with ties to the Bush administration pushing for an invasion of Iraq in 2003.

On 8 April 2008, during his visit in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Bildt gave an interview to Swedish state radio, where he responded to a question on whether it would be possible to strike a peace deal without the involvement of the Palestinian group Hamas, which remained under international boycott. He responded that the Palestinian Fatah-backed government could deal with Israel, in the same way that it was possible for the Israeli government to make peace with Fatah over the objections of the former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, similarly to Hamas opposed a two-state deal. Israeli officials issued very strongly worded condemnations of this, describing it as "horrible and stupid" and an example of "chutzpah" and "complete ignorance of the Middle East", on the grounds that they saw it as comparing Hamas and Netanyahu as equals.

In 2012, Bildt said he saw no problem with exporting Swedish weapons to Saudi Arabia. According to Bildt, "Would the situation in the world be better if they had bought French manufactured ones instead?" Bildt called friendly Saudi Arabia as a "family business" and said that he sees Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud "quite regularly". In 2015, Bildt criticized Sweden's foreign minister Margot Wallström for damaging Saudi-Swedish relations. Wallström tweeted criticism of Saudi Arabia's flogging of Saudi blogger and activist Raif Badawi.

Annexation of Crimea

Bildt visiting the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, 11 April 2014.
Map of the EU 28 in 2013: Eastern Partnership.

Bildt, together with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, was one of the main architects of the 2013 Eastern policy of the EU.

During Euromaidan, Carl Bildt has been criticized in Swedish media for ignoring and downplaying the issues with the Ukrainian Svoboda party. Johan Croneman at Dagens Nyheter has also condemned Bildt for pushing Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to rephrase himself after having expressed understanding of the Russians' concerns about the situation.

In a public message on Twitter, Bildt compared Viktor Yanukovych to Vidkun Quisling, writing that he was "sitting on foreign soil begging a foreign army to give his country to him". This has been described as "undiplomatic" by Christer Jönsson, professor in Political Science at the Lund University. Norwegian politician Anniken Huitfeldt also criticized Bildt's statement, saying that it showed "ignorance of history" and that it "does not contribute to solving the conflict". Torsten Kälvemark from Aftonbladet has criticized Bildt's statement as well. "Our Foreign Minister is ignorant, because it was actually Norway's legal head of state, Haakon VII, that during the war sat on foreign soil and hoped that he would with help from the British get back his country", he remarked. The culture editorial of the Aftonbladet newspaper where Torsten Kälvemark works has repeatedly been criticized since for being a tool of Russian propaganda in Sweden.

Stefan Hedlund, professor at Uppsala University, stated that "Carl Bildt's threatening rhetoric should in this context be regarded as extremely destructive", in an article about the Ukrainian crisis. Hedlund also suggested that Bildt should take a "time-out", and that progress can only be made through dialogue with Russia.

In a radio interview with channel SR P1 on 15 March, Bildt stated that he considers the Crimean referendum illegal, and "invalid, no matter which way people vote". He continued his refusal to answer questions about Svoboda, saying that he "won't describe what that party is". His overall comment on the new regime in Kyiv was that it was a "reasonable and democratic government" and that he does not want to "play along with Russian propaganda".

In early 2015, a study made at the Swedish Defence Research Agency stated that Bildt had been a target of information warfare and that he was "regularly smeared in Russian state-controlled media". The reason was described to be Bildt's involvement in the Eastern Partnership program and that the project was perceived as a threat by the Russian government.

In September 2015, Bildt visited Kyiv, where he argued that the EU should provide more financial support to Ukraine.

Internet activities

Bildt was an early pioneer among politicians of using the Internet for communicating. On 4 February 1994, he sent an email message to US president Bill Clinton, which was the first publicly known electronic message sent between two heads of government. In the message he praised Clinton's decision to end the trade embargo on Vietnam. In the same year, he also started a weekly electronic newsletter which was active until 2005. He is an active blogger, starting his first blog in February 2005. His current blog, started in January 2007, is one of the most widely read political blogs in Sweden.

On 30 May 2007, Bildt officially opened a "Swedish embassy" in the virtual world Second Life. The embassy, called "Second House of Sweden", is a virtual replica of House of Sweden, the Swedish embassy building in Washington, D.C. During Bildt's time as Foreign Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened a channel on YouTube which has been active since early 2008. He maintains a personal Twitter feed in English with approximately 780,000 subscribed followers. By 2013, an annual Burson Marsteller survey showed him as the best connected world leader. As of 2014, Bildt has served as Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance.

Life after politics

In mid-May 2015, Bildt was appointed to Ukraine's International Advisory Council on Reforms. The group consisting of several foreign advisors to President Petro Poroshenko, aims to improve security and economy in the country which has been ravaged by armed conflict in its Eastern part. On 14 May 2015, Bildt was also appointed as an advisor to Russian-controlled investment group LetterOne.

Bildt served as Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance that concluded its two-year work and produced its report in June 2016. In 2016, he joined international law firm Covington as a Senior Policy Advisor in the firm's global Public Policy and Government Affairs practice.

Bildt also writes monthly columns for international syndication organization Project Syndicate.

Following the 2022 Swedish general election and the election of Ulf Kristersson as Prime Minister Bildt revealed Kristersson had approached him offering to once again make Bildt Minister for Foreign Affairs in his cabinet. Bildt declined the offer, citing he does not like to do the same thing twice.

Non-profit organizations

Controversy

On 9 April 2021, the anniversary of the German occupation of Norway, Bildt tweeted that the Swedish defence forces were stronger than Norway and Denmark. His tweet provoked severe backlash, both from the public, and politicians, notably from Norwegian Minister of Culture Abid Raja, saying that he "had hoped our closest neighbour would be more sympathetic towards who this day is reflected by Norwegians and Norwegian Jews". Bildt stated that his intention was to commemorate the events of the occupation, and that what he tweeted was historically correct. He also added that people have read an assumption between the lines.

Distinctions

Bibliography

  • Bildt, Carl (1991). Hallänning, svensk, europé (in Swedish). Stockholm: Bonnier. ISBN 91-34-51204-7.
  • Bildt, Carl (1994). Den enda vägen (in Swedish). Stockholm: Moderata samlingspartiet. ISBN 91-85816-09-4.
  • Bildt, Carl (1997). Uppdrag fred (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. ISBN 91-1-300324-0.
  • Bildt, Carl. (Stockholm 1998) Peace Journey. The Struggle for Peace in Bosnia. (in English) London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0297841319
  • Bildt, Carl (2019). Den nya oredans tid (in Swedish). Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Förlag. ISBN 9789100186265.

References

  1. ^ Elgán, Elisabeth; Scobbie, Irene (2015). Historical Dictionary Of Sweden. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9781442250710. p. 42
  2. Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden, appointed WHO Special Envoy for the ACT-Accelerator World Health Organization (WHO), press release of March 31, 2021.
  3. ^ "Carl Bildt" (PDF). The Swedish Government. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  4. Between 1990 and 1994, per capita income declined by approximately 10% as per this link Archived 27 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Schwedens umstrittene Schulreform".
  6. "NATO Who's who?: Carl Bildt". www.nato.int. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  7. "Sweden recognises the Republic of Kosovo" (Press release). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
  8. "SWEDEN: MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS CARL BILDT TO VISIT KOSOVO, MACEDONIA". Archived from the original on 3 February 2018.
  9. Kellberg, Christina (18 September 2006). "Berättelsen om Fredrik Reinfeldt". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  10. Marja Novak (September 1, 2008), New EU Eastern Partnership seen leaving out Russia Reuters.
  11. ^ Richard Milne (June 4, 2014), Realist Carl Bildt helps Sweden punch above its weight Financial Times.
  12. ^ Alison Smale and Stephen Castle (July 6, 2009), A Diplomat's Reputation for Blunt Speaking International Herald Tribune.
  13. Simon Taylor (September 27, 2006), Foreign ministries eye up Solana’s job European Voice.
  14. "Sweden backs up NATO request on Libya". Swedishwire. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  15. "Government yes to Gripen deployment". The Local. 29 March 2011.
  16. Europe’s next foreign policy chief Financial Times, August 27, 2014.
  17. Byström, Max (11 November 2014). "Bildt får nytt uppdrag" (in Swedish). Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  18. "Top Swedish official backs Turkey for EU". International Herald Tribune. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  19. "European nations urge Turkey to stay on EU course". The New York Times. 23 July 2007. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  20. "Stå rakryggad mot Erdogan i dag, Bildt". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 7 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. "Georgia 'started unjustified war'". BBC News. 30 September 2009.
  22. "Kremlin told that move could backfire". Financial Times. 27 August 2008.
  23. "Carl Bildt | Bruegel". 3 September 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  24. Lundin may have led Bildt to the heart of darkness Archived 19 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Local, 22 December 2011
  25. Report of the “Wise Men” disclosed in Paris today: Towards a Space Agency for the European Union European Space Agency, press release of November 09, 2000.
  26. Ahlmark, Per (24 October 2006). "Du vet ju hur Carl är". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  27. ^ Demirbag-Sten, Dilsa (16 October 2006). "Oförebildtlig". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 14 June 2011..
  28. "BosNet Digest V5 No. 11". Hri.org. 7 January 1996. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  29. "Mr. Bildt's Responsibility in Bosnia". The New York Times. 17 December 1995.
  30. Nyberg, Mikael (27 October 2006). "Vad Carl Bildt gjort för kriget". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 24 January 2007..
  31. Hoffman, Gil (10 April 2008). "Swedish FM likens Netanyahu to Hamas". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  32. "Saudi Arabia a 'family business': Bildt". The Local. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  33. "Clash between Sweden and Saudi Arabia escalates as ambassador is withdrawn". The Guardian. 11 March 2015.
  34. "Playing East against West: The success of the Eastern Partnership depends on Ukraine". The Economist. 23 November 2013.
  35. Kälvemark, Torsten (6 March 2014). "Svoboda luktar fascism". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  36. ^ Croneman, Johan (4 March 2014). "Johan Croneman: SVT har inte haft en självständig utrikes-analytiker på flera decennier". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  37. Svensson, Niklas (9 March 2014). "Bildt: "Det kunde varit lite mindre underläge"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  38. Kärrman, Jens (14 March 2014). "Bildt pressades om Svoboda". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  39. "Bildts Quisling-tweet förvånar". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 4 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  40. Goldberg, Leonard (5 March 2014). "Bildt får skarp kritik för Quisling-tweet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  41. Kälvemark, Torsten (2 April 2014). "Så sprids fördomar om krisen på Krim". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  42. "Aftonbladet Kultur kritiseras för att sprida Putins världsbild". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 7 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  43. "Aftonbladets Ukraina-journalistik väcker frågor". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). 7 January 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  44. Hedlund, Stefan (12 March 2014). "Enda vägen framåt är dialog med Ryssland". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  45. "Bildt: Crimea referendum illegal". Sveriges Radio. 15 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  46. Sundberg, Marit (12 March 2015). "FOI: Så försökte Ryssland smutskasta Bildt" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  47. Franke, Ulrik (2015). War by non-military means: Understanding Russian information warfare (PDF). Sweden: Försvarsdepartementet/Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  48. John Lloyd (14 September 2015). "Europeans 'not grasping' the importance of Ukraine". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  49. "First Email Bildt to Clinton" Archived 10 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, bildt.net; accessed 22 September 2015.
  50. Simmons, Carl (30 May 2007). "Sweden opens virtual embassy 3D-style". Sweden.se. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007.
  51. Sweden's Carl Bildt 'best connected' Twitter leader BBC News, July 24, 2013.
  52. Bildt profile Archived 26 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, ourinternet.org; accessed 22 September 2015.
  53. "Sweden's Carl Bildt advises Ukraine President and Russian group". Stockholm: Yahoo! News. AFP. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  54. Russian Tycoon Taps Ex-Swedish Foreign Minister And Kremlin Critic As Adviser, 15 May 2015; retrieved 22 September 2015.
  55. Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt Joins Covington Covington, press release of May 19, 2016.
  56. https://www.project-syndicate.org/columnist/carl-bildt
  57. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/O88zGq/bildt-tackade-nej-till-att-bli-minister
  58. CEPA Announces High-Level Advisory Group led by Gen. McMaster and Min. Kramp-Karrenbauer Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), press release of 6 July 2022.
  59. Coordinating Committee Historians without Borders.
  60. International Advisory Board Atlantic Council.
  61. Carl Bildt Berggruen Institute.
  62. Advisory Board Centre for European Reform (CER).
  63. Carl Bildt Archived 17 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine Club de Madrid.
  64. Leadership European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
  65. Governance Friends of Europe.
  66. International Advisory Board Archived 2 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine GLOBSEC.
  67. Board of Trustees International Crisis Group (ICG).
  68. Board of Directors Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII).
  69. Advisory Council Munich Security Conference (MSC).
  70. Board of Trustees RAND Corporation.
  71. ^ International Advisory Board Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC).
  72. Membership Archived 3 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine Trilateral Commission.
  73. Honorary Board Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
  74. Board Yalta European Strategy (YES).
  75. Tweet fra Sveriges eksstatsminister skaper kraftige reaksjoner, Aftenposten, 9 April 2021
  76. "Severe backlash following Bildt-tweet about the occupation day" (in Norwegian). VG. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  77. "Sök ordens- och medaljförläningar" [Search for orders and medals] (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  78. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  79. "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer" [Awards of medals and medals]. www.kongehuset.no (in Norwegian). Royal Court of Norway. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  80. "UOK – Upplysning om kommunismen". Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism. Retrieved 19 October 2009.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded byUlf Adelsohn Leader of the Moderate Party
1986–1999
Succeeded byBo Lundgren
Political offices
Preceded byUlf Adelsohn Leader of the Opposition
1986–1991
Succeeded byIngvar Carlsson
Preceded byIngvar Carlsson Prime Minister of Sweden
1991–1994
Leader of the Opposition
1994–1999
Succeeded byBo Lundgren
Preceded byJan Eliasson Minister for Foreign Affairs
2006–2014
Succeeded byMargot Wallström
Diplomatic posts
New office High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
1995–1997
Succeeded byCarlos Westendorp
Prime Ministers of Sweden
1809 Instrument of Government
(1876–1974)
1974 Instrument of Government
(1975–present)
Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt (2006–2014)
Prime Minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for European Affairs
Minister for Justice
Minister for Migration
and Asylum Policy
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister of Commerce and Industry
Minister for International
Development Cooperation
Minister of Defence
Minister for Health
and Social Affairs
Minister for Elderly
and Children Welfare
Minister for Public
Administration and Housing
Stefan Attefall (2010–14)
Minister for Social Security
Minister for Finance
Minister for Financial Markets
Minister for Education
Minister for Schools
Minister for Higher Education
and Research
Minister for Gender Equality
Minister for Agriculture
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Enterprise
Minister of IT and Energy
Minister for Infrastructure
Minister for Integration
and Gender Equality
Minister for Culture
Minister for Employment
Minister of Integration
High Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Logo of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Logo of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coat of arms of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Categories: