Thorbjörn Fälldin

Nils Olof Thorbj?rn F?lldin (born 24 April 1926 in Angermannia, Sweden), Swedish politician. Prime Minister of Sweden in three Cabinets from 1976 to 1982. Party leader of the Centre Party from 1971 to 1985. When he became Prime Minister in 1976, he was the first non-social democrat to hold that post for forty years.

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He grew up as a part of a farming family in Angermania and himself became a farmer. As the party had success in the popular opinion as a result of the fight over the future pension system in the late '50s, he became a member of Parliament in 1958.

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In competition with Johannes Antonsson, he became vice-chairman of the party in 1969 and in 1971 he became chairman, succeeding Gunnar Hedlund.

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He suggested in 1973 that the party and Folkpartiet The Liberals should merge, however the proposition failed to get a majority among the members of the Center Party.

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As the Center Party was the largest non-Socialist party he became the right bloc candidate for Prime Minister in the parliamentary election 1976. They won the election, and the Center Party, together with Folkpartiet. The Liberals and the Moderate Coalition Party. The Cabinet became however characterized by fights over the expansion of nuclear power, in 1978 he resigned and Folkpartiet. The Liberals formed a miniority government.

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Following the election in 1979 he regained the post as Prime Minister, again forming a government by support of the Center Party, Folkpartiet and the Moderate Coalition Party. This cabinet lasted for two years, until the Moderate Coalition Party left because of disagreement over taxation. F?lldin continued as Prime Minister until the election in 1982, when the Social Democrats regained the power.

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After a second election defeat in 1985 Thorbj?rn F?lldin left the post as chairman, as well as his post in Parliament, later that year. After leaving politics he has hold posts as chairman in F?reningsbanken as well as Televerket.

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24 April: REDIRECT April 24...

1926: 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar)....

Angermannia: redirect Ångermanland...