Maud Olofsson

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Maud Olofsson
Minister for Enterprise and Energy
In office
6 October 2006  29 September 2011
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded by Thomas Östros
Succeeded by Annie Lööf
Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
In office
6 October 2006  5 October 2010
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded by Bo Ringholm
Succeeded by Jan Björklund
Chairman of the Centre Party
In office
19 March 2001  23 September 2011
Preceded by Lennart Daléus
Succeeded by Annie Lööf
Personal details
Born (1955-08-09) 9 August 1955
Aranäs, Ångermanland, Sweden
Political party Centre Party
Spouse(s) Rolf Olofsson
Occupation Politician
Religion Christian

Maud Elisabeth Olofsson (born Olsson 9 August 1955, Arnäsvall, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Ångermanland) is a Swedish former politician who was leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 2001 to 2011, Minister for Enterprise and Energy from 2006 to 2011 and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden from 2006 to 2010. She was a member of the Riksdag from 2002 to 2011.

Olofsson announced her intent to step down as party leader on June 17, 2011 and was succeeded by Annie Lööf on September 23, 2011.

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. 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, a relative of Jennifer Granholm, with whom she has three children.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
Lennart Daléus
Chairman of the Centre Party
20012011
Succeeded by
Annie Lööf
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Östros
Minister for Enterprise and Energy
20062011
Succeeded by
Annie Lööf
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