Björn von Sydow

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Björn von Sydow
Björn von Sydow
In office
1997 – 2002
Preceded by Thage G. Peterson
Succeeded by Leni Björklund
In office
2002 – 2006
Preceded by Birgitta Dahl
Succeeded by Per Westerberg
Born November 26, 1945 (1945-11-26) (age 62)
Political party Social Democratic Party
Occupation politician
Vasa Museum Director Klas Helmerson (left) explaining aspects of the sinking of Vasa to US Defense Secretary William Cohen (center) and Swedish Defense Minister Bjorn von Sydow (right) in 2000.
Vasa Museum Director Klas Helmerson (left) explaining aspects of the sinking of Vasa to US Defense Secretary William Cohen (center) and Swedish Defense Minister Bjorn von Sydow (right) in 2000.

Björn Gustaf von Sydow (born November 26, 1945) was the speaker (talman) of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament. He held this office following the 2002 election, when he succeeded Birgitta Dahl, until he was replaced on October 2, 2006. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he had been Minister of Defence in Göran Persson's government between 1997 and 2002, preceded by a short term as Minister of Trade.

Apart from leading the Riksdag debates, von Sydow also served as head of state in the absence of the King and his three children, e.g. if they all went on a journey abroad.

The speaker also had a key role when the government resigned. However, when Göran Persson asked for his resignation after the lost 2006 election, the parliamentary situation was very clear, so already on September 19, 2006 Sydow could formally ask Fredrik Reinfeldt to begin the formation of a new government to take office after the new Riksdag has assembled to approve it. On October 2, 2006, the changed majority situation in the Riksdag also had Sydow replaced by Moderate Party politician and previous Vice Speaker Per Westerberg. Already before the election, Sydow had stated that he was not interested in a Vice Speaker position, so that office went to fellow Social Democrat Jan Björkman.[1]

Björn von Sydow has taken his mother's surname and is a distant relative of the actor Max von Sydow.[citation needed] He lives in Solna outside Stockholm, is married and has four children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Press release from the Riksdag, October 2, 2006

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Thage G. Peterson		 Swedish Minister for Defence
1997–2002		 Succeeded by
Leni Björklund
Preceded by
Birgitta Dahl		 Speaker of the Riksdag
2002–2006		 Succeeded by
Per Westerberg
Persondata
NAME Sydow, Björn von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sydow, Bjorn von (English)
SHORT DESCRIPTION Politician
DATE OF BIRTH November 26, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH Sweden
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH