Stefan Löfven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefan Löfven
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Löfven in 2017
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| President of the European Socialists | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Sergey Stanishev |
| Prime Minister of Sweden | |
| In office 3 October 2014 – 30 November 2021 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Deputy | Margot Wallström Morgan Johansson Åsa Romson Isabella Lövin Per Bolund |
| Preceded by | Fredrik Reinfeldt |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Andersson |
| Leader of the Social Democratic Party | |
| In office 27 January 2012 – 4 November 2021 |
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| Secretary-General | Carin Jämtin Lena Rådström Baastad |
| Preceded by | Håkan Juholt |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Andersson |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 27 January 2012 – 3 October 2014 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Prime Minister | Fredrik Reinfeldt |
| Deputy | Carina Moberg Mikael Damberg |
| Preceded by | Håkan Juholt |
| Succeeded by | Fredrik Reinfeldt |
| Member of the Riksdag for Västernorrland County |
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| In office 14 September 2014 – 16 November 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Agneta Lundberg |
| Succeeded by | Anna-Belle Strömberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kjell Stefan Löfvén
21 July 1957 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Political party | Social Democratic |
| Spouse |
Ulla Löfven
(m. 2003) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Sweden |
| Branch/service |  Swedish Air Force |
| Years of service | 1976–1977 |
| Rank | Private |
Stefan Löfven (born 21 July 1957) is a Swedish politician. He is currently the President of European Socialists, a role he started in October 2022. Before this, he was the Prime Minister of Sweden from October 2014 to November 2021. He also led the Social Democratic Party from 2012 to 2021.
After finishing school and his military service in the Swedish Air Force, Löfven became a welder. He worked as a metalworker and became very active in trade unions. He was elected as an ombudsman for the Swedish Metalworkers' Union. Later, he became the first president of IF Metall in January 2006. In January 2012, he was chosen to lead the Social Democratic Party. He then became the Leader of the Opposition.
Löfven led the Social Democrats in the 2014 election. His party gained a seat, and he was able to form a government with the Green Party. He became Prime Minister on 3 October 2014. He won a second term after the 2018 election. This election led to a long period of talks to form a government. Löfven was re-elected Prime Minister in January 2019.
On 21 June 2021, Löfven lost a vote of confidence in the Riksdag. This caused a brief political crisis. However, he managed to form a new government and was confirmed as Prime Minister again in July 2021. He was known for being good at handling difficult political situations.
On 22 August 2021, Löfven announced he would step down as leader of the Social Democrats and then as Prime Minister. Magdalena Andersson was chosen to replace him. Löfven officially resigned as Prime Minister on 10 November 2021. He continued to lead a temporary government until his successor took office on 30 November 2021.
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Early Life and Education
Stefan Löfven was born on 21 July 1957 in Stockholm, Sweden. His father passed away before he was born. He was placed in an orphanage and then lived with a foster family in Sunnersta, Sollefteå.
He went to Sollefteå High School. He also took a welding course in Kramfors. Later, he studied social work at Umeå University for a year and a half.
From Welder to Union Leader
After his military service in the Swedish Air Force from 1976 to 1977, Löfven started working as a welder in 1978. He worked at Hägglund & Söner in Örnsköldsvik. After two years, he became a union representative. He held many union jobs over the years.
In 1995, he became an ombudsman for the Swedish Metalworkers' Union. He worked on contract talks and international issues. In 2001, he became the vice-chairman of the Metalworkers' Union. In November 2005, he was elected the first chairman of the new trade union IF Metall.
Political Journey
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Löfven joined the Social Democrats when he was 13 years old. He was active in their youth group, SSU. In 2006, he was elected to the Social Democrats' main board. This happened shortly after he became chairman of the IF Metall trade union.
Leading the Social Democrats
In January 2012, after the previous leader resigned, Stefan Löfven was considered as a replacement. On 26 January 2012, the party's executive board chose him to be the new leader. He was officially elected leader on 27 January 2012. The party confirmed him as leader at their congress in April 2013.
Löfven led his party in the 2014 European Parliament election. The Social Democrats remained the largest party from Sweden in the European Parliament. However, their results were slightly lower than in the previous election.
Becoming Prime Minister of Sweden
Löfven led his party in the 2014 general election. The election resulted in a situation where no single party or group had a clear majority. His party's results were a bit better than in 2010.
He announced that he would form a minority coalition government. This government would include his own party and the Green Party. On 2 October 2014, the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) approved Löfven as Prime Minister. He officially took office the next day. The Social Democrats and Green Party voted for him. The Left Party did not vote.
First Term as Prime Minister
Löfven wanted the government and opposition parties to work together. They agreed to cooperate on three main areas: the pension system, future energy development, and security and defence policy.
Budget Challenges
The government's first budget was presented in October 2014. The Left Party supported it. However, other parties, including the Alliance and the Sweden Democrats, presented their own budgets. On 2 December, the Sweden Democrats decided to support the Alliance's budget. This meant the government's budget was voted down on 3 December.
Löfven first announced he would call an early election. But on 27 December, the government and the Alliance parties reached an agreement. This agreement was called the "December Agreement." It was meant to ensure the government's budgets would pass. Löfven then cancelled the early election.
Handling the Migrant Situation
In 2015, many people sought asylum in Europe. Sweden received over 150,000 people that year. In late 2015, the number of people arriving increased a lot. Löfven's government changed Sweden's migration policy.
On 23 October 2015, a new agreement was signed. It included temporary residency permits and rules for family reunification. It also made it mandatory for municipalities to help house refugees. On 12 November 2015, the government introduced temporary border controls. On 4 January 2016, identity checks were also introduced. This meant people needed a valid ID to enter Sweden.
National Security Concerns
In July 2017, it became public that a former head of the Swedish Transport Agency had handled secret information carelessly. This happened during a contract for IT services in 2015. The information included details about wanted vehicles and the state's internal security system.
Löfven held a press conference on 24 July 2017. He said there had been an "accident." Some ministers knew about the situation earlier but did not inform the Prime Minister. Opposition parties called for a vote of confidence against some ministers. On 27 July, Löfven announced changes in his government. Two ministers resigned, but Löfven himself did not.
Second Term and Challenges
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Stefan Löfven aimed to make the 2018 election about the welfare state. The Social Democrats did better than expected. After the election, Löfven said he wanted to remain Prime Minister.
However, on 25 September 2018, the Riksdag voted against Löfven. He remained in office as head of a temporary government. After a very long time trying to form a new government, Löfven was re-elected Prime Minister on 18 January 2019. This happened after an agreement between the Social Democrats, Greens, Liberals, and Centre Party. The Left Party also agreed not to vote against him. The second Löfven Government started on 21 January.
2021 Government Crisis
In June 2021, the Left Party said they no longer supported Löfven's government. This was due to a report about removing rent controls on new apartments. The Sweden Democrats then proposed a vote of no confidence against Löfven. Other opposition parties supported this. Löfven said it was irresponsible to cause a political crisis.
The vote of no confidence was held on Monday, 21 June. The Riksdag voted in favor of it. This was the first time in Swedish history that such a vote led to a government falling. Löfven had one week to call a new election or resign. On 28 June, Löfven announced his resignation. However, he was given a second chance to form a government. On 7 July, the Riksdag voted again. Löfven was reinstated as Prime Minister because not enough votes were cast against him to remove him.
Stepping Down as Prime Minister
In his summer speech on 22 August 2021, Löfven announced he would not seek re-election as party chairman. He also said he would resign as prime minister after his successor was chosen. Magdalena Andersson became the only candidate to replace him. She later became Sweden's first female prime minister. On 10 November, Löfven officially resigned. He continued to lead a temporary government until Andersson took office on 30 November 2021.
Life After Being Prime Minister
In 2022, Löfven was chosen by the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres to co-chair a special board. This board works on making global cooperation more effective.
On 14 October 2022, Löfven was elected President of the Party of European Socialists. He also serves on the board of the Harald Edelstam Foundation. This foundation gives out a human rights prize.
Personal Life
Löfven enjoys sports. He supports the ice hockey club Modo and the football clubs Tottenham Hotspur and GIF Sundsvall. He is married to Ulla Löfven, who is also a politician and trade unionist. He has two stepchildren.
Awards and Recognition
Legion of Honour, Commander, by the President of France (8 September 2023)
H. M. The King's Medal, 12th size in gold on chain. (6 June 2022).
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Second Class, by the President of Ukraine (2021)- Aaron Isaac Award, by the Jewish Congregation in Stockholm (2021)
Images for kids
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Löfven with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Stockholm, 25 August 2016
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Löfven with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 11 February 2017
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Löfven and other Nordic leaders with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm, 17 April 2018
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Löfven with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, in Sofia, 16 May 2018
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Löfven with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in Madrid, 22 February 2019
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Löfven with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the International Arctic Forum in Saint Petersburg, 9 April 2019
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Löfven with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, 8 January 2020
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See also
In Spanish: Stefan Löfven para niños
