Göran Persson

Hans Göran Persson {{Audio|sv-Göran_Persson.ogg|listen}} (born January 20, 1949) is a Swedish politician. He is the current Prime Minister of Sweden (since March 1996) and the leader of the Social Democratic Party.

Biography

Persson was born in Vingåker in Södermanland, Sweden. He studied political science at Örebro College but did not graduate (however, as the college later recieved credentials as a full university, the renamed Örebro University gave him a honorary PhD in medicine 2005). In the early seventies he worked for the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League (SSU), and was a member of the national board from 1972 to 1975. Later, he served as a city council politician at the small municipality of Katrineholm. In 1979 he was elected Member of Parliament, but went back to local politics to serve as head of the municipal government or kommunalråd from 1985 to 1989. In 1989 he was made Minister of Schools in the Ministry of Education, until the election in 1991 when the Social Democrats were voted out of office. Upon returning to government in 1994 he was made Minister of Finance, a post he held until 1996, when he succeeded Ingvar Carlsson as Prime Minister and party leader.

Related Topics:
Vingåker - Södermanland - Örebro University - Swedish Social Democratic Youth League - 1972 - 1975 - Municipality - Katrineholm - 1979 - 1985 - 1989 - Election - 1991 - 1994 - 1996 - Ingvar Carlsson

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Persson is known for his oratorical prowess, often dispensing with prepared speeches or preparing them without staff. He is also known for his somewhat harsh leadership. As a city council member at Katrineholm, he was nicknamed "HSB", an acronym for "Han som bestämmer" ("He who decides").

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In February, 2005, Persson was awarded a honorary doctorate that has provoked some controversy and bribery claims. http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=941&date=20050208&PHPSESSID=796008df6d93a841997c1c85217de599

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