Ulf Kristersson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ulf Kristersson
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Kristersson in 2023
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| Prime Minister of Sweden | |
| Assumed office 18 October 2022 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Deputy | Ebba Busch |
| Preceded by | Magdalena Andersson |
| Leader of the Moderate Party | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2017 |
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| Deputy |
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| Party Secretary |
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| Preceded by | Anna Kinberg Batra |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 1 October 2017 – 18 October 2022 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Anna Kinberg Batra |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Andersson |
| Minister for Social Security | |
| In office 5 October 2010 – 3 October 2014 |
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| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Prime Minister | Fredrik Reinfeldt |
| Preceded by | Cristina Husmark Pehrsson |
| Succeeded by | Annika Strandhäll |
| Chairman of the Moderate Youth League | |
| In office 26 November 1988 – 24 October 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Beatrice Ask |
| Succeeded by | Fredrik Reinfeldt |
| Member of the Riksdag | |
| Assumed office 4 October 2014 |
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| Constituency | Södermanland County |
| In office 5 October 1991 – 30 April 2000 |
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| Constituency | Stockholm Municipality |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson
29 December 1963 Lund, Sweden |
| Political party | Moderate Party |
| Spouse |
Birgitta Ed
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Sager House |
| Alma mater | Uppsala University (Civilekonom) |
| Cabinet | Kristersson’s cabinet |
| Website | Official website: https://moderaterna.se/politiker/ulf-kristersson/ |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Swedish Army |
| Years of service | 1983–1984 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Uppland Regiment (signals) |
Ulf Kristersson (born 29 December 1963) is a Swedish politician. He has been the Prime Minister of Sweden since October 2022. He is also the leader of the Moderate Party since 2017.
Before becoming Prime Minister, he was a member of parliament (MP) for Södermanland County since 2014. He was also the Minister for Social Security from 2010 to 2014. From 1988 to 1992, he led the Moderate Youth League, which is the youth branch of his party.
In 2017, Kristersson became the leader of the Moderate Party. Under his leadership, the party started working more closely with the Sweden Democrats. This led to a new group of parties forming a partnership. In the 2022 Swedish general election, this group won enough votes to form a government. Ulf Kristersson was then chosen as Prime Minister on 17 October 2022.
Contents
Ulf Kristersson's Early Life and Political Start
Growing Up and Education
Ulf Kristersson was born in Lund, Sweden. He was the oldest of three children. His family moved to Torshälla when he was five years old.
After finishing high school, Kristersson served in the military from 1983 to 1984. He was a platoon commander. Later, he studied economics at Uppsala University.
Starting in Politics
Kristersson began his political journey in 1985. He worked as a campaigner for the Moderate Youth League. In 1988, he became the chairman of this youth group.
In 1991, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). He worked on the Social Security Committee. In 1992, he faced a challenge for the leadership of the Moderate Youth League. This event was called the Battle of Lycksele. Kristersson lost this election.
Returning to Public Service
After leaving parliament in 2000, Kristersson worked in the private sector for a few years. He returned to politics in 2002. He became a local leader in Strängnäs. From 2006, he worked in Stockholm, focusing on social welfare.
In 2010, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who was Prime Minister, appointed Kristersson as the Minister of Social Security. He held this job for four years. After the 2014 election, he was elected as an MP again. He then became the Shadow Finance Minister for his party.
Leading the Moderate Party
In 2017, the previous leader of the Moderate Party stepped down. Ulf Kristersson decided to run for the leadership. He was elected leader on 1 October 2017. After he became leader, support for the Moderate Party grew in public opinion polls. He also took a stronger stance on immigration.
Forming a Government (2018-2019)
After the 2018 election, no clear government could be formed. Kristersson tried to create a new government. He first sought to work with other center-right parties and the Social Democrats. However, these talks did not succeed.
Later, the Speaker of the Riksdag (Sweden's parliament) suggested Kristersson as Prime Minister. But on 14 November 2018, the Riksdag voted against him. This was the first time a Speaker's choice for Prime Minister was rejected.
Working with Other Parties
In December 2019, Kristersson met with the leader of the Sweden Democrats. He announced that his party would work with them in parliament. This was a big change, as other parties had avoided working with the Sweden Democrats before.
In 2020, he spoke about the rise in crime in Sweden. He called it a "second pandemic."
Government Challenges (2021)
In June 2021, the Prime Minister at the time, Stefan Löfven, was removed from office. Kristersson was asked to try and form a new government. He planned to lead a group of parties including his own, the Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Sweden Democrats. However, he could not get enough support. He informed the Speaker that he could not form a government.
Becoming Prime Minister (2022)
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Kristersson led the Moderate Party in the 2022 Swedish general election. Even though his party lost some seats, the group of right-wing parties he worked with won a majority. This led to the resignation of the previous Prime Minister.
On 14 October 2022, Kristersson presented the Tidö Agreement. This agreement outlined how his party, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals would form a government. The Sweden Democrats would support this government without being part of it directly. On 17 October, Kristersson was elected Prime Minister by the Riksdag. This was the first time the Sweden Democrats had a direct influence on the government.
The new government's plan focused on fighting crime, reducing immigration, and increasing nuclear energy. They also planned to lower the number of refugees accepted each year.
Prime Minister of Sweden (2022–Present)
On 18 October 2022, King Carl XVI Gustaf officially recognized Kristersson as the new Prime Minister. Kristersson announced his government's plans and appointed his ministers.
In September 2024, Kristersson made some changes to his cabinet during a speech at the Riksdag Opening Ceremony.
Domestic Policies
National Defense
Sweden had been working to join NATO since May 2022. This decision had wide support in the Riksdag. On 8 March 2023, Kristersson's government submitted the bill for NATO membership. Sweden officially joined NATO on 7 March 2024. Kristersson signed the agreement in Washington, D.C. and gave a speech to the nation.
The government also increased defense spending. They aimed to reach 2% of Sweden's total economic output by 2026. In December 2022, the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment was reopened after being closed in 2000.
In April and May 2023, the Swedish Armed Forces held their largest military exercise in 34 years, called Aurora 23. About 26,000 people from 14 countries took part.
Energy Plans
Kristersson's government changed Sweden's energy goals. They removed bans on building new nuclear reactors. They also increased funding for nuclear safety. The goal for Sweden's energy policy changed from 100% "renewable energy" to 100% "fossil free energy".
In December 2022 and January 2023, energy companies announced plans to build new nuclear reactors in Sweden. In April 2023, a large expansion of hydroelectric power was announced.
Helping with Energy Costs
To help people with high electricity bills, Kristersson's government announced a large financial support package in October 2022. This help was later expanded to cover all parts of Sweden. They also provided support for companies that use a lot of electricity.
Immigration Policies
Kristersson's government made changes to Sweden's immigration policies. They increased checks on foreigners. They also worked to send back people who did not meet the requirements to stay in Sweden. The number of refugees accepted each year was lowered to 900.
In April 2023, the government suggested that most asylum seekers must live in state housing. They also proposed that asylum seekers should take part in social introduction programs. In 2023, Sweden had the lowest number of asylum seekers in the 21st century.
Fighting Crime
In the 2020s, violence from organized crime groups increased in Sweden. In September 2023, Ulf Kristersson announced that he would ask the armed forces for help. He discussed how soldiers could support the police in fighting criminal gangs.
The government also created the National Security Council. This council helps different government agencies work together on national security. In February 2024, the police gained the power to issue "stay bans." These bans prevent individuals from entering certain public areas if they promote violence. In April 2024, "Security Zones" were introduced. In these zones, police can search people and vehicles without suspicion of a crime.
Alcohol Sales
In June 2024, Kristersson announced a plan to allow vineyards to sell small amounts of their own drinks to visitors. This change is planned for 2025. It will not affect the main state-owned alcohol store, Systembolaget.
Economy
One of the government's main goals was to fight inflation. Inflation had been very high since 2021. By 2024, inflation had fallen. The government then shifted its focus to creating economic growth and reducing unemployment.
In August 2024, Kristersson's government announced they would remove the Aviation Tax in 2025. This is meant to make Sweden more competitive and lower flight prices.
Foreign Policies
Kristersson's first foreign meetings were with the leaders of Finland in October 2022. They discussed energy, defense, and the war in Ukraine.
In November 2022, Kristersson attended a climate change conference in Egypt. He also met with the Turkish President to discuss Sweden's application to join NATO.
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On 1 January 2023, Sweden took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. Their priorities included security, competitiveness, green transition, and democratic values.
In February 2023, Kristersson visited Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He promised continued support for Ukraine. In April 2023, his government helped evacuate Swedish citizens from Sudan due to conflict.
In July 2024, Kristersson attended the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., as Sweden was now an official member. In November 2024, he congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory. He also spoke about the risks, especially regarding US aid to Ukraine.
Ulf Kristersson's Political Views
Ulf Kristersson is seen as a leader who is smart and open to discussion. He is known for his focus on social mobility, which means helping people move up in society. He wants Sweden to be a "country for hopefuls."
He supports integrating refugees into Swedish society. However, he believes they should learn the Swedish language and participate in society.
Kristersson initially said he would not form an alliance with the Sweden Democrats. But after the 2018 election, he changed this policy. He began official talks with their leaders. Before the 2022 election, he suggested forming a right-wing group with them. After the election, he formed a government with their support.
In 2023, after some public burnings of the Quran, Kristersson spoke out against these actions. However, he also stated his belief in freedom of expression. He said that burning any book, even holy ones, is legal.
Personal Life
Ulf Kristersson lives in Strängnäs. He has been married to Birgitta Ed since 1991. She is a priest in the Church of Sweden. They have three adopted daughters from China. Kristersson does not consider himself a religious person.
Honours and Awards
Sweden: Received the Golden Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (15 September 2023)
France: Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour (30 January 2024)
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (23 April 2024)
Denmark: Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (6 May 2024)
Ukraine: First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (26 August 2024)
Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (6 May 2025)
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Images for kids
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Ulf Kristersson in 2023
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Ulf Kristersson during the 2018 Swedish general election.
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Kristersson meeting the Speaker in October 2022.
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Kristersson with Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden Ebba Busch in 2022.
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Kristersson, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom during the NATO ratification ceremony in Washington, D.C., 7 March 2024
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Kristersson with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023.
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Kristersson with U.S. President Joe Biden on 5 July 2023
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Kristersson with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on 12 July 2023
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Kristersson with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on 27 November 2023
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Kristersson with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2017
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See also
In Spanish: Ulf Kristersson para niños
