Thorbjörn Fälldin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thorbjörn Fälldin
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Thorbjörn Fälldin in 1967.
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| Prime Minister of Sweden | |
| In office 12 October 1979 – 8 October 1982 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Deputy | Ingemar Mundebo Ola Ullsten |
| Preceded by | Ola Ullsten |
| Succeeded by | Olof Palme |
| In office 8 October 1976 – 18 October 1978 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Deputy | Per Ahlmark Ingemar Mundebo |
| Preceded by | Olof Palme |
| Succeeded by | Ola Ullsten |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nils Olof Thorbjörn Fälldin
24 April 1926 Högsjö, Sweden |
| Died | 23 July 2016 (aged 90) Ås, Sweden |
| Political party | Centre Party |
| Spouse |
Solveig Fälldin
(m. 1956) |
Nils Olof Thorbjörn Fälldin (born April 24, 1926 – died July 23, 2016) was an important Swedish politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Sweden three times between 1976 and 1982. He was also the leader of the Swedish Centre Party from 1971 to 1985.
When he first became Prime Minister in 1976, it was a big deal. He was the first Prime Minister in 40 years who was not from the Social Democrats. He was also one of the few leaders who had not been a full-time politician since he was very young.
Contents
Early Life and Farming Roots
Thorbjörn Fälldin was born in Högsjö parish, a place in Ångermanland, Sweden. His parents, Nils Johan and Hulda Fälldin, were farmers. He grew up helping on the family farm.
In 1956, after he got married, he and his wife bought their own small farm. However, the farming authorities thought the farm was too small and old. They refused to give them money to help with farming, called subsidies.
This challenge made Fälldin join the youth group of a farming political party. This party was first called the Farmers' League. Later, in 1958, it changed its name to the Centre Party. Fälldin and his family kept their farm even while he was a politician. When he stopped being a politician in 1985, he went straight back to farming.
Political Journey
Fälldin started his national political career in 1958. He was elected to the Swedish Riksdag, which is like Sweden's parliament. He represented the Centre Party, which focused on issues important to farmers.
In 1971, he became the chairman, or leader, of the Centre Party. He took over from a long-time leader named Gunnar Hedlund. In 1973, Fälldin suggested that his party should join with the Liberal Party. However, most party members did not agree with this idea.
Becoming Prime Minister
In the 1976 election, something surprising happened. The Social Democrats, who had been in power for 40 years, lost their majority. The non-Socialist parties, which included the Centre Party, the Liberal Party, and the Conservative Moderate Party, decided to work together. They formed a coalition government.
Because the Centre Party was the largest of these three parties, Thorbjörn Fälldin became the Prime Minister.
Challenges and Resignations
Two years later, in 1978, the coalition government broke apart. The main reason was a disagreement about nuclear power. The Centre Party was strongly against nuclear power, while other parties had different views. Because of this, Fälldin resigned as Prime Minister. A new government was formed by the Liberal Party.
After the 1979 election, Fälldin became Prime Minister again. Even though his party lost some support, he formed another coalition government. This time, it was with the Liberals and the Moderates again.
This government also lasted for about two years. There were disagreements about tax policies, and the Moderates left the coalition. Fälldin continued as Prime Minister until the 1982 election. In that election, the Social Democrats won back power.
After another difficult election in 1985, Fälldin decided to step down. He resigned as the leader of his party and left politics. After leaving politics, he served on the boards of several important organizations. These included a bank called Föreningsbanken and a telecommunications company called Televerket.
Other Roles
Fälldin was also a board member of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in the 1970s. This foundation supports science and education.
Personal Life
In 1956, Thorbjörn Fälldin married Solveig Öberg. She was also from a farming family. He passed away on July 23, 2016, at the age of 90. His funeral was held in Härnösand Cathedral, and he was buried in Högsjö Cemetery.
His Legacy
During his 27 years in national politics, many people respected Fälldin. They liked his honest and simple way of speaking. He was also known for being willing to listen to everyone's opinions.
His time as Prime Minister was not easy. He had to try and get three different political parties to work together. At the same time, Sweden was going through a very tough economic period.
Fälldin did not let security concerns change his daily life much. When he was Prime Minister, he lived alone in a small apartment in Stockholm. His family stayed on their farm in northern Sweden. He would cook his own meals and take out the trash in the morning. Then, he would walk to his office, with a police car following at a distance. This was his only real change for security.
One famous moment during his time as Prime Minister was during the U 137 crisis in 1981. A Soviet submarine got stuck in Swedish waters. When asked what to do, Fälldin gave a simple and strong answer: "Hold the border!" (Håll gränsen!). This showed his firm leadership.
Cabinets He Led
- Fälldin I Cabinet
- Fälldin II Cabinet
- Fälldin III Cabinet
See also
In Spanish: Thorbjörn Fälldin para niños
