Ann Linde

Ann Christin Linde (born 4 December 1961) is a Swedish politician of the Social Democratic Party[1] who has been serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven since 10 September 2019.[2][3]

Not to be confused with Anna Lindh.
Ann Linde
Ann Linde in September 2016
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Assumed office
10 September 2019
Prime MinisterStefan Löfven
Preceded byMargot Wallström
Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Assumed office
1 January 2021
Preceded byEdi Rama
Minister for Nordic Cooperation
In office
21 January 2019 – 10 September 2019
Prime MinisterStefan Löfven
Preceded byMargot Wallström
Succeeded byAnna Hallberg
Minister for Foreign Trade
In office
25 May 2016 – 10 September 2019
Prime MinisterStefan Löfven
Preceded byMikael Damberg
Succeeded byAnna Hallberg
Minister for EU Affairs
In office
25 May 2016 – 21 January 2019
Prime MinisterStefan Löfven
Preceded byBirgitta Ohlsson (2010-14)
Succeeded byHans Dahlgren
Personal details
Born
Ann Christin Linde

(1961-12-04) 4 December 1961
Helsingborg, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Political partySocial Democratic Party
Spouse(s)Mats Eriksson (1989-present)
Children2
OccupationPolitician

Linde previously served as Minister for Foreign Trade and Minister for Nordic Cooperation.[4] Before that she was the Minister for European Union Affairs and Trade for Löfven Cabinet since 25 May 2016.[5]

Political career

Throughout the 1990s, Linde worked in government offices, including the Ministry Secretary of Civil Affairs and the political advisor of the EU and Trade Minister Mats Hellström of Foreign Affairs and of Defense Minister Björn von Sydow on Ministry of Defense.[6]

Linde worked as international secretary at the Social Democratic Party in Sweden from 2000 to 2013. From 2013 to 2014, she was the head of the International Department of the European Socialist Party (PES) in Brussels, an umbrella organization for all social-democratic parties in the EU.[7]

From 2014 until 2016, Linde served as State Secretary for the Ministry of Justice[8] In this capacity, she worked with Interior Minister Anders Ygeman.

Under Linde's leadership, Sweden's government decided in March 2020 to send a rapid reaction force of up to 150 troops and helicopters to Mali to join French-led Takuba task force in fighting militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel region of North Africa.[9]

When Sweden took over the rotating Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2021, Linde became the organization's Chairperson-in-Office.[10][11]

Political positions

When parliamentary majority in favour of Sweden joining NATO emerged in 2020, Linde rejected such plans and reiterated her conviction that the country was best served by independence from alliances.[12]

Controversies

Headscarf controversy

Linde attracted criticism for wearing a headscarf, or hijab (a veil worn by Muslim women), during a visit by a government delegation to Tehran in 2017 when she met president Hassan Rouhani.[13][14]

Transport Agency security breaches

Being State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Linde was one of the first politicians in the Government Offices who received information from the Security Department that, due to purchases the Transport Agency made available confidential information for foreign collaborators who were not security-checked. When it came to the media in the summer of 2017, it led to rigid criticism from the conservative opposition and the Swedish Democrats, as well as to new tasks and disclosures, finally a government construction.[15]

Islamic revolution celebration

As minister for foreign trade, Linde took part in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Linde's participation was criticized by Iranian community organizations in Sweden, who argued that Linde's participation in the celebration was an insult to all Iranians living in Sweden who had to flee the Islamic regime.[16]

Other activities

Recognition
  • 2011 – "Friend of Palestine of the Year", awarded by a Palestinian community organization in Sweden (Palestinska föreningen)[20]

Personal life

Since 1989, Linde has been married to Mats Eriksson.[21] She has two children.[21]

References
  1. Swedish trade minister Linde shifting to Foreign affairs Yahoo News Retrieved 11 September 2019
  2. "Swedish PM appoints trade minister Linde as new foreign minister". CNA. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. Anna Ringstrom (September 9, 2019), Swedish trade minister Linde shifting to foreign affairs: TV Reuters.
  4. Eklundh, Johanna. ""En av de svagaste regeringarna sedan efterkrigstiden"". SVT Nyheter. Retrieved 22 May 2020
  5. "Ann Linde, S, är ny EU- och handelsminister". Dagens Nyheter. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  6. Swedish trade minister Ann Linde to become new Foreign minister Euronews Retrieved 11 September 2019
  7. Anna Ringstrom (September 9, 2019), Swedish trade minister Linde shifting to foreign affairs: TV Reuters.
  8. "Statssekreterare blir EU-minister". VLT. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  9. Simon Johnson (March 16, 2020), Sweden says to send up to 150 special forces troops to Mali Reuters Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  10. Francois Murphy (August 28, 2020), OSCE chairman renews offer to facilitate dialogue in Belarus Reuters.
  11. Sweden takes over OSCE Chair Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), press release of January 1, 2021.
  12. Anna Ringstrom (December 9, 2020), Majority in Swedish parliament backs 'NATO option' after Sweden Democrats shift Reuters.
  13. "Sweden defends officials wearing headscarves in Iran". BBC News. 2017-02-13. Retrieved 2020-11-19. Trade Minister Ann Linde led a business team last week and faced criticism for wearing a headscarf, or hijab.
  14. "Svenska ministern bar slöja i Iran – väcker debatt". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  15. "Transport Agency's IT business: This has happened". Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  16. "Ann Lindes deltagande i firande av den "Islamiska" revolutionen är ett hån mot iranier". FFFI (in Swedish). 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  17. Board of Directors Anna Lindh Memorial Fund.
  18. Official CV of Ann Linde Government of Sweden.
  19. Official CV of Ann Linde Government of Sweden.
  20. "Prisad Palestinavän". DN.SE (in Swedish). 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  21. "The 1st Politician of the Year". Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.

Media related to Ann Linde at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Birgitta Ohlsson		 Minister for European Union Affairs
2016–2019		 Succeeded by
Hans Dahlgren
Preceded by
Mikael Damberg		 Minister for Foreign Trade
2016–2019		 Succeeded by
Anna Hallberg
Preceded by
Margot Wallström		 Minister for Nordic Cooperation
2019
Minister for Foreign Affairs
2019–		 Incumbent
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