Tobias Billström

Tobias Billström
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 October 2006
Preceded by Barbro Holmberg
Minister of Employment
In office
7 July 2010 – 5 October 2010
Preceded by Sven Otto Littorin
Succeeded by Hillevi Engström
Personal details
Born 27 December 1973 (1973-12-27) (age 38)
Malmö, Sweden
Political party Moderate Party
Alma mater Lund University
University of Cambridge
Website www.tobiasbillstrom.se

Tobias Lennart Billström (born 27 December 1973 in Malmö) is a Swedish politician currently serving as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy in the Swedish government. Billström, a member of the Moderate Party, has been a Member of Parliament since 2002 representing Malmö Municipality (seat 122). Due to Billström's duties as a minister, his seat in the parliament is currently occupied by his replacement, Staffan Appelros.[1] Billström was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Insurance, and has also been Moderate Party spokesperson for migration and integration. He is chairman for the Moderate Party in Malmö.

In addition to his Migration portfolio, Billström was appointed temporary Minister for Employment by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, following Sven Otto Littorin's immediate resignation on 7 July 2010.[2]

Billström has a Master's degree in history and political science from Lund University, and a Master's degree in Historical studies from University of Cambridge.[3] Billström was appointed as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy on 6 October 2006 in the centre-right cabinet led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

At the age of 38, Billström is the youngest member of the cabinet. He is also the first openly bisexual person to serve as minister in a Swedish cabinet.[4]

TV license controversy

Main article: Minister affair at the announcement of the Reinfeldt cabinet

On 11 October 2006, less than a week after he took office, it was revealed that Billström deliberately had neglected to pay his television licence for ten years, despite owning a television. Billström stated that his neglect was based on his political standpoint against public service, but that he had come to appreciate public service and that he believed that citizens and especially legislators should follow the law. Billström also expressed his ambition to repay his debt with interest.[5] However, on 12 October 2006, Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB, a private agency tasked with collecting the license fees, filed criminal charges against Billström together with two other ministers in the Reinfeldt Cabinet: Cecilia Stegö Chilò and Maria Borelius,[6] with the latter two resigning on 14 October and 16 October 2006. Billström has stated that he intends to remain in office and has no intention of resigning.[7]

References

  1. ^ Riksdag: Tobias Billström (m) (accessed on 14 July 2007) (Swedish).
  2. ^ "Billström appointed employment minister". The Local. 7 July 2010. http://www.thelocal.se/27652/20100707/. Retrieved 7 July 2010. 
  3. ^ Curriculum vitae of Tobias Billström (PDF-file) (English).
  4. ^ "The Swedish presidency of the EU". European Voice. 6 June 2009. http://www.europeanvoice.com/folder/theswedishpresidencyoftheeu/124.aspx?artid=65305. Retrieved 28 September 2011. 
  5. ^ "Fler ministrar betalar inte licens" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. 11 October 2006. http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/fler-ministrar-betalar-inte-licens_360380.svd. Retrieved 11 October 2006. 
  6. ^ "Ministers reported to police for unpaid TV licences". The Local. 13 October 2006. http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=5202&date=20061013. Retrieved 13 October 2006. 
  7. ^ Bergbom, Kalle; Hall, Thomas (17 October 2006). "Jag tänker inte avgå" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/jag-tanker-inte-avga. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Barbro Holmberg		 Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
2006–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Sven Otto Littorin		 Swedish Minister for Employment
7 July 2010 – 5 October 2010		 Succeeded by
Hillevi Engström
Current ministers
Reinfeldt · Adelsohn Liljeroth · Ask · Bildt · Billström · Björklund · Björling · Borg · Ek · Carlsson · Erlandsson · Hägglund · Larsson · Ohlsson · Lööf · Sabuni · Tolgfors · Norman · Kristersson · Attefall · Hatt · Elmsäter-Svärd · Engström · Ullenhag
Former ministers
Borelius (2006) · Stegö Chilò (2006) · Odenberg (2006–2007) · Leijonborg (2006–2009) · Malmström (2006–2010) · Littorin (2006-2010) · Husmark Pehrsson (2006-2010) · Odell (2006-2010) · Krantz (2009-2010) · Torstensson (2006-2010) · Olofsson (2006-2011) · Carlgren (2006-2011)