Göran Hägglund
Encyclopedia
Bo Göran Hägglund is a Swedish
politician and the current leader of the Christian Democrats of Sweden
. He was elected Party Leader on 3 April 2004, succeeding Alf Svensson
. Since 6 October 2006 he is also the Minister for Health and Social Affairs in Sweden.
Hägglund was born in Degerfors
in central Sweden, but moved to Jönköping
, a Christian Democratic stronghold, with his family in 1978.
Following the 1985 elections, he started to work as parliamentary secretary for the Christian Democrats. In 1988 he temporarily left politics to start working for an insurance company. In the parliamentary elections of 1991 he was elected a Member of Parliament.
Hägglund was generally considered to be long-time party leader Alf Svensson
's personal favourite as a successor. However, when Svensson announced his plans to step down, two other candidates, Maria Larsson
and Mats Odell
, had the support of a bigger number of regional party organisations. Not even Hägglund's own Jönköping district stood behind him. Eventually, however, all Hägglund's possible contenders withdrew from the race, and his election as party leader on 3 April 2004 was unanimous.
Prior to the Swedish general election in 2006
Hägglund's Christian Democrats formed a closer alliance with the three other centre-right
parties in Sweden, under the name Alliance for Sweden
. After their victory in the elections, Fredrik Reinfeldt
of the Moderate Party
was asked by the Speaker of the Riksdag
to form a new government. Following negotiations between the leaders of the parties in the Alliance for Sweden, Göran Hägglund was named Minister for Health and Social Affairs on 6 October 2006.
. He is married and has two children.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
politician and the current leader of the Christian Democrats of Sweden
Christian Democrats (Sweden)
The Christian Democrats ) is a political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1964 but did not enter parliament until 1985 in an electoral cooperation with the Centre Party and on the Christian Democrats' own accord in 1991. The leader since April 3, 2004 is Göran Hägglund. He succeeded Alf...
. He was elected Party Leader on 3 April 2004, succeeding Alf Svensson
Alf Svensson
Alf Robert Olof Svensson is a Swedish politician and Member of the European Parliament from 2009. Alf was the leader of the Christian Democrats in Sweden between 1973 and 3 April 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1985 to 1988 and again from 1991 until his election to the European Parliament...
. Since 6 October 2006 he is also the Minister for Health and Social Affairs in Sweden.
Hägglund was born in Degerfors
Degerfors Municipality
Degerfors Municipality is a municipality in Örebro County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Degerfors....
in central Sweden, but moved to Jönköping
Jönköping Municipality
Jönköping Municipality is a municipality in Jönköping County, southern Sweden. The city Jönköping is the municipal seat. The municipality is situated by the southern end of lake Vättern.-Historical background:...
, a Christian Democratic stronghold, with his family in 1978.
Political career
He started his political career in the Christian Democratic youth organisation. From 1978 he was employed by the party, first as ombudsman for the local Christian Democratic Youth, and from 1981 for the regional party branch. From 1982 to 1986 he was also a member of the Municipal Council in Jönköping.Following the 1985 elections, he started to work as parliamentary secretary for the Christian Democrats. In 1988 he temporarily left politics to start working for an insurance company. In the parliamentary elections of 1991 he was elected a Member of Parliament.
Hägglund was generally considered to be long-time party leader Alf Svensson
Alf Svensson
Alf Robert Olof Svensson is a Swedish politician and Member of the European Parliament from 2009. Alf was the leader of the Christian Democrats in Sweden between 1973 and 3 April 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1985 to 1988 and again from 1991 until his election to the European Parliament...
's personal favourite as a successor. However, when Svensson announced his plans to step down, two other candidates, Maria Larsson
Maria Larsson
Maria Larsson is Swedish politician and a member of the Christian Democratic Party . She is a trained schoolteacher, and is married with three children. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1998 representing Jönköping County, and vice party leader of the Christian Democrat Party since 2003...
and Mats Odell
Mats Odell
Mats Christer Johannes Odell is a Swedish politician and former minister of communications . From October 2006 until October 2010, when he was replaced by Peter Norman, he served as Minister for Financial Markets.Odell was chairman of the Young Christian Democrats 1975–1981...
, had the support of a bigger number of regional party organisations. Not even Hägglund's own Jönköping district stood behind him. Eventually, however, all Hägglund's possible contenders withdrew from the race, and his election as party leader on 3 April 2004 was unanimous.
Prior to the Swedish general election in 2006
Swedish general election, 2006
A general election was held in Sweden on 17 September 2006, to elect members to the Swedish parliament. All 349 seats were up for election: 310 "fixed seats" in 29 constituencies and 39 members at a national level for what are called "adjustment seats", used to ensure that parties have...
Hägglund's Christian Democrats formed a closer alliance with the three other centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
parties in Sweden, under the name Alliance for Sweden
Alliance for Sweden
The Alliance , formerly Alliance for Sweden , is a political alliance in Sweden. It consists of the four centre-right parties in the Riksdag...
. After their victory in the elections, Fredrik Reinfeldt
Fredrik Reinfeldt
John Fredrik Reinfeldt is the Prime Minister of Sweden, leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party and former President of the European Council...
of the Moderate Party
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
was asked by the Speaker of the Riksdag
Speaker of the Riksdag
The Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden is the speaker of the national parliament in Sweden. The Riksdag underwent changes in 1867, when the old Riksdag of the Estates institution was abolished. The new form of the Riksdag included two chambers, each with its own Speaker...
to form a new government. Following negotiations between the leaders of the parties in the Alliance for Sweden, Göran Hägglund was named Minister for Health and Social Affairs on 6 October 2006.
Personal life
Hägglund grew up in the Pentecostal movement, but is now a member of the Church of SwedenChurch of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
. He is married and has two children.