Anders Björck
Encyclopedia
Anders Per - Arne Björck (born September 19, 1944) is a Swedish
politician
and the former Governor
of Uppsala County
from 2003 to 2009.
Björck was born in Nässjö
and was interested in politics from an early stage. He was national chairman of the Moderate Youth League
, or the Rightist Youth League (Högerns ungdomsförbund) as it was known at the time of his election. He was the first truly young - only 21 - chairman of the Youth League - his predecessor was 35 years old.
In 1968 - aged only 22 - he was elected to the Riksdag
for the Rightist Party (Högerpartiet) which became the Moderate Party in 1969.
In 1989 he was elected president of the Council of Europe
and served until 1991, when the Moderate Party won the election and Carl Bildt
was allowed to form a government. He was appointed Minister for Defence. When the Moderates lost the 1994 election he became vice speaker of the Riksdag, a position he held until 2002.
Björck was known to belong to the so-called "Bunker gang" - a group of politicians and advisors forming the inner circle around party leader Carl Bildt.
In 2003 he was appointed Governor
of Uppsala County
and took up residence in Uppsala Castle
. He was involved in a brawl with the police on New Year's Eve
in 2004.
Anders Björck has continued to speak up on political issues from time to time. He remains rather Conservative
, compared to other Moderates, and has on numerous occasions spoken up against what he perceives as the growing influence of liberalism
in the Moderate Party.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Uppsala County
Uppsala County
Uppsala County is a county or län on the eastern coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Stockholm, Södermanland, Västmanland, Gävleborg, and the Baltic Sea.- Province :For History, Geography and Culture see: Uppland...
from 2003 to 2009.
Björck was born in Nässjö
Nässjö
Nässjö is a locality and the seat of Nässjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 16,463 inhabitants in 2005.-History:Nässjö was for a long time only a rural village with agriculture as the dominant occupation. The turning point was the construction of the Swedish railway system. The southern...
and was interested in politics from an early stage. He was national chairman of the Moderate Youth League
Moderate Youth League
The Moderate Youth League , officially known in English as the Swedish Young Conservatives, is the youth wing of the Swedish Moderate Party. It had 12 051 members in 2010...
, or the Rightist Youth League (Högerns ungdomsförbund) as it was known at the time of his election. He was the first truly young - only 21 - chairman of the Youth League - his predecessor was 35 years old.
In 1968 - aged only 22 - he was elected to the Riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
for the Rightist Party (Högerpartiet) which became the Moderate Party in 1969.
In 1989 he was elected president of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and served until 1991, when the Moderate Party won the election and Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt
, Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006...
was allowed to form a government. He was appointed Minister for Defence. When the Moderates lost the 1994 election he became vice speaker of the Riksdag, a position he held until 2002.
Björck was known to belong to the so-called "Bunker gang" - a group of politicians and advisors forming the inner circle around party leader Carl Bildt.
In 2003 he was appointed Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Uppsala County
Uppsala County
Uppsala County is a county or län on the eastern coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Stockholm, Södermanland, Västmanland, Gävleborg, and the Baltic Sea.- Province :For History, Geography and Culture see: Uppland...
and took up residence in Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle is a 16th century royal castle in the historical city of Uppsala, Sweden. Throughout much of its early history, the castle played a major role in the history of Sweden....
. He was involved in a brawl with the police on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
in 2004.
Anders Björck has continued to speak up on political issues from time to time. He remains rather Conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, compared to other Moderates, and has on numerous occasions spoken up against what he perceives as the growing influence of liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in the Moderate Party.