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Lena Hjelm-Wallén
Acting Minister for Defence
In office
30 September 2002 – 21 October 2002
Prime Minister Göran Persson
Preceded by Björn von Sydow
Succeeded by Pär Nuder (Acting)
Acting Minister for Justice
In office
21 September 2000 – 11 October 2000
Prime Minister Göran Persson
Preceded by Laila Freivalds
Succeeded by Thomas Bodström
Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
In office
10 November 1995 – 21 October 2002
Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson
Göran Persson
Preceded by Mona Sahlin
Succeeded by Margareta Winberg
In office
16 February 1990 – 27 February 1990
Acting
Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson
Preceded by Kjell-Olof Feldt (Acting)
Succeeded by Odd Engström
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
7 October 1994 – 7 October 1998
Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson
Göran Persson
Preceded by Margaretha af Ugglas
Succeeded by Anna Lindh
Minister for International Development Cooperation
In office
17 October 1985 – 4 October 1991
Prime Minister Olof Palme
Ingvar Carlsson
Preceded by Ola Ullsten
Succeeded by Alf Svensson
Minister for Education
In office
8 October 1982 – 17 October 1985
Prime Minister Olof Palme
Preceded by Jan-Erik Wikström
Succeeded by Lennart Bodström
Minister for Schools
In office
4 January 1974 – 8 October 1976
Prime Minister Olof Palme
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Britt Mogård
Personal details
Born (1943-01-14) 14 January 1943 (age 82)
Sala, Sweden
Political party Social Democratic
Spouse Ingvar Wallén
Alma mater Uppsala University
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Lena Birgitta Hjelm-Wallén (born on January 14, 1943) is a well-known Swedish politician. She has had a long and important career in Sweden's government. She started as a member of the Swedish Parliament, called the Riksdag, in 1968. She then held many different jobs as a minister, starting in 1974. At that time, she was the youngest minister ever!

Lena Hjelm-Wallén is a member of the Social Democratic party. She served as the Minister for Education from 1982 to 1985. Later, she became the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1998. One of her most important roles was Deputy Prime Minister from 1995 to 2002.

Lena Hjelm-Wallén's Political Journey

Lena Hjelm-Wallén began her political career in the Swedish Parliament. This is where laws are made and important decisions for the country happen. Her journey shows how someone can start as a parliament member and rise to very high positions in government.

Early Ministerial Roles

In 1974, Lena Hjelm-Wallén became the Minister for Schools. This was a big deal because she was the youngest person to hold such a high position at that time. As Minister for Schools, she was in charge of how schools in Sweden were run. She worked to make sure students got a good education.

After that, from 1982 to 1985, she served as the Minister for Education. In this role, she oversaw the entire education system, from schools to universities. She helped shape how young people in Sweden learned and grew.

Working for International Development

From 1985 to 1991, Lena Hjelm-Wallén was the Minister for International Development Cooperation. In this job, she worked on helping other countries. This often involved providing aid and support to nations that needed it. Her work aimed to improve living conditions and promote development around the world.

Leading Foreign Affairs

One of her most significant roles was serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1998. As the Foreign Minister, she was Sweden's main representative to other countries. She handled international relations, worked on peace efforts, and promoted Sweden's interests globally. This job involved a lot of diplomacy and working with leaders from different nations.

Becoming Deputy Prime Minister

From 1995 to 2002, Lena Hjelm-Wallén held the important position of Deputy Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister helps the Prime Minister lead the country. They often step in when the Prime Minister is not available. This role showed her deep experience and trust within the government.

She also took on acting roles as Minister for Justice in 2000 and Minister for Defence in 2002 for short periods. These roles meant she temporarily oversaw the country's legal system and its military.

Promoting Democracy Worldwide

Beyond her work in the Swedish government, Lena Hjelm-Wallén has also contributed to global efforts. She served as the chair of the governing board for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). IDEA is an organization that works with 25 countries to support democracy. Their goal is to help countries become more democratic and fair. This shows her dedication to important values like freedom and fairness for everyone.

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