Thomas Bodström
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lennart Bodström is a Swedish politician and member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
. He was the Swedish
Minister for Justice
in the two last succeeding governments of the Swedish Prime Minister
Göran Persson
, from 2000 to 2006. Since October 2006 until October 2010 he was the chairman of the Riksdag
s committee for juridical issues. When the new parliament, that was elected in 2010, was inaugurated, Bodström lost his position as a committee chairman. Bodström shortly afterwards requested half time leave of absence from his seat in the parliament combined with half time parental leave in order to relocate to USA together with his family. His request for leave of absence was denied by the Social Democratic group leader in the parliament and Bodström have thus left his seat in the Parliament. His part time parental leave was already granted from the Swedish Social Insurance Administration. Thomas Bodström is also active as the chairman of the children's rights organization ECPAT
Sweden
.
Thomas Bodström is the son of Lennart Bodström
, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs 1982–1985 in the Olof Palme
government. In his youth, however, Thomas Bodström was not involved in party politics. Instead, his first brush with media attention came as a football
player in AIK
, a team in the Premier Division of the Swedish Football league
, 1987–1989. In 1990 he graduated from Stockholm University
with a Bachelor of Laws degree. After that, he worked as a lawyer for ten years. During his career he took interest in international affairs and in 1999 he joined the board of the Swedish branch of the international organisation Lawyers Without Borders
.
However, when former Prime Minister
Göran Persson
announced his new cabinet appointment on 11 October 2000, Bodström was a completely unknown face to most of the political journalists attending the press conference. At the time, he was not even a member of the Social Democratic party. Although Bodström was unaccustomed to national politics at the time, he has managed to keep his job despite calls for his resignation, especially loudly voiced after several high profile prison breaks during the summer of 2004.
After being appointed as Minister for Justice, he was elected to the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag
, in the 2002 Swedish parliamentary election. This could be regarded as a purely formal exercise, his seat immediately taken over by a substitute.
He has written a book, 700 dagar i Rosenbad (700 days in Rosenbad
), about his experiences as a newcomer in the government.
in his youth and also that he at several occasions had employed a person in his home without paying the appropriate taxes.
During his term in office, Bodström has been heavily criticized by advocates of privacy and liberal think-tanks as he is said to have worked towards giving the police the possibility of monitoring people that might be involved in minor crimes, as well as other things that can be seen as intrusive to privacy.
On 23 August 2010, during an interview by Swedish Radio, in light of the current drug-testing debate, the reporter asks Bodström if he is willing to participate in a drug test. Bodström first agrees, but when the nurse explains that he will be tested for amphetamines, hashish
, opiates, and benzodiazepines, he changes his mind and says, "I don't feel like doing it now. I am sweating too much."
The Pirate Party defended his right not to take the test in reference to their views on privacy.
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...
. He was the Swedish
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....
Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice (Sweden)
The Minister for Justice is the justice minister of Sweden and head of the Ministry of Justice. The current Minister for Justice is Beatrice Ask of the Moderate Party....
in the two last succeeding governments of the Swedish Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Göran Persson
Göran Persson
Hans Göran Persson was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006 and the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1996 to 2007. Conceding defeat in the September 2006 general election, he announced that he would resign as party leader, and Mona Sahlin was elected to succeed him as...
, from 2000 to 2006. Since October 2006 until October 2010 he was the chairman of the Riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
s committee for juridical issues. When the new parliament, that was elected in 2010, was inaugurated, Bodström lost his position as a committee chairman. Bodström shortly afterwards requested half time leave of absence from his seat in the parliament combined with half time parental leave in order to relocate to USA together with his family. His request for leave of absence was denied by the Social Democratic group leader in the parliament and Bodström have thus left his seat in the Parliament. His part time parental leave was already granted from the Swedish Social Insurance Administration. Thomas Bodström is also active as the chairman of the children's rights organization ECPAT
ECPAT
ECPAT is an international non-governmental organisation and network headquartered in Thailand which is designed to end commercial sexual exploitation of children...
Sweden
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....
.
Thomas Bodström is the son of Lennart Bodström
Lennart Bodström
Ture Lennart Bodström is a Swedish politician born in Gothenburg, serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs in Olof Palme's Social Democratic cabinet from 1982 to 1985...
, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs 1982–1985 in the Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
government. In his youth, however, Thomas Bodström was not involved in party politics. Instead, his first brush with media attention came as a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player in AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
, a team in the Premier Division of the Swedish Football league
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
, 1987–1989. In 1990 he graduated from Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
with a Bachelor of Laws degree. After that, he worked as a lawyer for ten years. During his career he took interest in international affairs and in 1999 he joined the board of the Swedish branch of the international organisation Lawyers Without Borders
Lawyers Without Borders
Lawyers Without Borders is an international non-profit organization founded in 2000, which operates worldwide from its central headquarters located in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A. It has only one affiliate: Lawyers Without Borders UK founded in 2003, headquartered in London, which acquired UK...
.
However, when former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
Göran Persson
Göran Persson
Hans Göran Persson was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006 and the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1996 to 2007. Conceding defeat in the September 2006 general election, he announced that he would resign as party leader, and Mona Sahlin was elected to succeed him as...
announced his new cabinet appointment on 11 October 2000, Bodström was a completely unknown face to most of the political journalists attending the press conference. At the time, he was not even a member of the Social Democratic party. Although Bodström was unaccustomed to national politics at the time, he has managed to keep his job despite calls for his resignation, especially loudly voiced after several high profile prison breaks during the summer of 2004.
After being appointed as Minister for Justice, he was elected to the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
, in the 2002 Swedish parliamentary election. This could be regarded as a purely formal exercise, his seat immediately taken over by a substitute.
He has written a book, 700 dagar i Rosenbad (700 days in Rosenbad
Rosenbad
Rosenbad is a building in central Stockholm, precinct of Norrmalm, designed by Art Nouveau architect Ferdinand Boberg and completed in 1902. It is located on Strömgatan on the North side of the river Norrström...
), about his experiences as a newcomer in the government.
Controversy
At the time of his appointment, Bodström revealed in an interview that he had used hashishHashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
in his youth and also that he at several occasions had employed a person in his home without paying the appropriate taxes.
During his term in office, Bodström has been heavily criticized by advocates of privacy and liberal think-tanks as he is said to have worked towards giving the police the possibility of monitoring people that might be involved in minor crimes, as well as other things that can be seen as intrusive to privacy.
On 23 August 2010, during an interview by Swedish Radio, in light of the current drug-testing debate, the reporter asks Bodström if he is willing to participate in a drug test. Bodström first agrees, but when the nurse explains that he will be tested for amphetamines, hashish
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
, opiates, and benzodiazepines, he changes his mind and says, "I don't feel like doing it now. I am sweating too much."
The Pirate Party defended his right not to take the test in reference to their views on privacy.