Maud Olofsson
Encyclopedia
Maud Elisabeth Olofsson is a Swedish
politician, the former leader of the Centre Party of Sweden
(Centerpartiet) between 2001-2011, and the former Minister for Enterprise and Energy between 2006 and 2011. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
between 2006 and 2010.
, Västernorrland
. She started her political career as an ombudsman of the youth organisation of the Centre Party in 1974, and served as a member of the local council in Luleå
from 1976. From 1978 to 1981 she held the same job with the party. From 1992 to 1994, during the Carl Bildt
centre-right government, she worked as Special Adviser to Minister Börje Hörnlund
at the Department of Labour. From 1996 she has been a member of the Centre Party board. From 1997 to 2001 she worked as Managing Director for the Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies (Hushållningssällskapet) in Västerbotten
. She was elected Party Leader on 19 March 2001, succeeding Lennart Daléus
.
Her political standpoint could be seen as a traditional Centre Party position, with an emphasis on rural Sweden and the survival of rural communities, combined with centre-right economic policies. It was however a remarkable new feature in the history of the Centre Party, when Maud Olofsson characterized her party's ideology as Social Liberalism
. Although the Centre Party in history has sometimes cooperated with the governing Social Democrats
, under Maud Olofsson the party opted for a clear oppositional role, strengthening its alliance with the Liberals
, the Christian Democrats
and the Moderate Party
.
Following its victory in the elections in 2006, this alliance was able to form a new government under Fredrik Reinfeldt
. Maud Olofsson was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy.
Maud Olofsson is married to Rolf, with whom she has three 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, the former leader of the Centre Party of Sweden
Centre Party (Sweden)
The Centre Party is a centrist political party in Sweden. The party maintains close ties to rural Sweden and describes itself as "a green social liberal party". The ideology is sometimes called agrarian, but in a European context, the Centre Party can perhaps best be characterized as social...
(Centerpartiet) between 2001-2011, and the former Minister for Enterprise and Energy between 2006 and 2011. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
The Swedish constitution allows the Prime Minister to appoint one of the Ministers in the cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister , in case the Prime Minister for some reason is prevented from performing his or her duties...
between 2006 and 2010.
Biography
Maud Olofsson grew up in Högbyn, in Örnsköldsvik MunicipalityÖrnsköldsvik Municipality
Örnsköldsvik Municipality is one of Sweden's 290 municipalities, in Västernorrland County in northern Sweden. Its seat is in the town Örnsköldsvik...
, Västernorrland
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
. She started her political career as an ombudsman of the youth organisation of the Centre Party in 1974, and served as a member of the local council in Luleå
Luleå Municipality
Luleå Municipality is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Luleå, which is also the county seat of Norrbotten County.-Localities:There are 18 localities in Luleå Municipality:...
from 1976. From 1978 to 1981 she held the same job with the party. From 1992 to 1994, during the Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt
, Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006...
centre-right government, she worked as Special Adviser to Minister Börje Hörnlund
Börje Hörnlund
Börje Hörnlund is a Swedish retired politician. He was a member of the Centre Party. Hörnlund was Ministry of Employment between 1991 and 1994.-References:...
at the Department of Labour. From 1996 she has been a member of the Centre Party board. From 1997 to 2001 she worked as Managing Director for the Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies (Hushållningssällskapet) in Västerbotten
Västerbotten County
Västerbotten County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It borders the counties of Västernorrland, Jämtland, and Norrbotten, as well as the Norwegian county of Nordland and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Provinces :...
. She was elected Party Leader on 19 March 2001, succeeding Lennart Daléus
Lennart Daléus
Lennart Daléus is a Swedish politician, who was the leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 1998 to 2001.More recently, Lennart Daléus works as the general secretary of the Swedish Greenpeace.-References:...
.
Her political standpoint could be seen as a traditional Centre Party position, with an emphasis on rural Sweden and the survival of rural communities, combined with centre-right economic policies. It was however a remarkable new feature in the history of the Centre Party, when Maud Olofsson characterized her party's ideology as Social Liberalism
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
. Although the Centre Party in history has sometimes cooperated with the governing Social Democrats
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
, under Maud Olofsson the party opted for a clear oppositional role, strengthening its alliance with the Liberals
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
, the Christian Democrats
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...
and 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...
.
Following its victory in the elections in 2006, this alliance was able to form a new government under 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...
. Maud Olofsson was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy.
Maud Olofsson is married to Rolf, with whom she has three children.