Maud Olofsson
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Maud Elisabeth Olofsson (born Olsson, August 1955, Arnäs, Ångermanland) is a Swedish politician, leader of the Centre Party of Sweden (Centerpartiet) since 2001, Vice Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Industry since 2006.
[edit] Biography
Maud Olofsson grew up in Högbyn, in Örnsköldsvik Municipality, 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. 1992-1994, 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. 1997-2001 she worked as Managing Director for the Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies (Hushållningssällskapet) in Västerbotten. She was elected Party Leader on March 19, 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 Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Industry.
Maud Olofsson is married to Rolf, with whom she has three children.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Lennart Daléus |
Leader of the Swedish Centre Party 2001— |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Thomas Östros |
Swedish Minister for Industry 2006— |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt |
|---|
| Fredrik Reinfeldt (Prime Minister) • Cecilia Malmström (EU Affairs) • Beatrice Ask (Justice) • Tobias Billström (Migration and Asylum Policy) • Carl Bildt (Foreign Affairs) • Sten Tolgfors (Foreign Trade) • Gunilla Carlsson (International Development Cooperation) • Mikael Odenberg (Defence) • Göran Hägglund (Social Affairs) • Maria Larsson (Public Health and Social Services) • Cristina Husmark Pehrsson (Social Security) • Anders Borg (Finance) • Mats Odell (Local Government and Financial Markets) • Lars Leijonborg (Education and Science) • Jan Björklund (Schools) • Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth (Culture) • Eskil Erlandsson (Agriculture) • Andreas Carlgren (Environment) • Maud Olofsson (Industry and Trade, Vice Prime Minister) • Åsa Torstensson (Infrastructure) • Sven Otto Littorin (Employment) • Nyamko Sabuni (Integration and Gender Equality) |
