Ilmar Reepalu
Encyclopedia
IImar Reepalu is a Swedish Social Democrat politician and currently the mayor of the city of Malmö
. After a professional life as a urban planner in Borås
and Malmö
, he became a municipal commissioner
of Malmö in 1985. In the beginning for the opposition, but since the 1994 election he serves as the chairman of the municipal board - a position equal to that of mayor.
Although frequently expressing controversial views - most notable is his statements on the wave of rising antisemitism in Malmö - he also commands great respect as being instrumental in the transformation of Malmö from an industrial town in decline towards being a centre of culture and green technology.
in Ostland
, present day Estonia
. In August 1944 his family fled the advancing Soviet forces in a open boat, heading towards Sweden
. Outside the island of Svenska Högarna
their boat capsized, but they were saved by the patrolling Swedish navy. He and the rest of his family was at first interned at a refugee camp at Medevi Brunn, but they could later esablish themselves in Motala
where Reepalu grew up.
Reepalu's political life started in 1958, when he as a student at the gymnasium where involved with starting the local branch of Social Democratic Youth League
. After serving his draft time
as a combat diver
with the Costal Rangers, he moved to Gothenburg
where he took a degree in Civil engineering
(1968) and trained as an architect
(1970), both at Chalmers University of Technology
. During his time in Gothenburg, he where also involved in political groups that fought the proposed demolitions in the Haga
district of Gothenburg.
From 1970 to 1973 Reepalu was employed by VBB, a building consultant firm. From 1973 he was employed as a urban planner
in Malmö, except between 1977 and 1979 when he was the acting head of urban planning in Borås.
Reepalu have expressed that he did not want to mix political assignments with his job as an urban planner, so when then-mayor Nils Yngvesson asked him in 1973 to sit for the Social Democrats at the building board of Malmö he declined. In 1984 he got his first political assignment, as a alternate member for the health board. The year after he was employed full-time as a politician, becoming a municipal commissioner
and in 1994 he was elected chairman of the municipal board.
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
. After a professional life as a urban planner in Borås
Borås
Borås is a locality and the seat of Borås Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 63,441 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Borås is located at the point of two crossing railways, among them the railway between Gothenburg and Kalmar, and is often considered the Swedish city gaining the...
and Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, he became a municipal commissioner
Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner is an office and political title in the municipalities of Sweden for councillors with executive responsibilities. The Commissioners are the only full-time employed office-holders outside the municipal civil service...
of Malmö in 1985. In the beginning for the opposition, but since the 1994 election he serves as the chairman of the municipal board - a position equal to that of mayor.
Although frequently expressing controversial views - most notable is his statements on the wave of rising antisemitism in Malmö - he also commands great respect as being instrumental in the transformation of Malmö from an industrial town in decline towards being a centre of culture and green technology.
Biography
Ilmar Reepalu was born in October 1943 in NõvaNõva Parish
Nõva is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Lääne County. It has a population of 465 and an area of 129.6 km².-Populated places:Nõva Parish has 8 villages: Hindaste, Nõmmemaa, Nõva, Peraküla, Rannaküla, Tusari, Vaisi, Variku.-References:...
in Ostland
Reichskommissariat Ostland
Reichskommissariat Ostland, literally "Reich Commissariat Eastland", was the civilian occupation regime established by Nazi Germany in the Baltic states and much of Belarus during World War II. It was also known as Reichskommissariat Baltenland initially...
, present day Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. In August 1944 his family fled the advancing Soviet forces in a open boat, heading towards Sweden
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....
. Outside the island of Svenska Högarna
Svenska Högarna
Svenska Högarna is a small group of islands and a lighthouse located east of Möja in the Stockholm archipelago. The lighthouse is located on the largest island Storön, and is the only lighthouse in Stockholm archipelago with the classic iron design of architect Nils Gustaf von Heidenstam...
their boat capsized, but they were saved by the patrolling Swedish navy. He and the rest of his family was at first interned at a refugee camp at Medevi Brunn, but they could later esablish themselves in Motala
Motala
Motala is a locality and the seat of Motala Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 29,798 inhabitants in 2005. It is the third largest city of Östergötland, following Linköping and Norrköping...
where Reepalu grew up.
Reepalu's political life started in 1958, when he as a student at the gymnasium where involved with starting the local branch of Social Democratic Youth League
Swedish Social Democratic Youth League
The Swedish Social Democratic Youth League is a branch of the Swedish social democratic party Socialdemokraterna and the Swedish Trade Union Confederation...
. After serving his draft time
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
as a combat diver
Frogman
A frogman is someone who is trained to scuba diving or swim underwater in a military capacity which can include combat. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver or combatant diver or combat swimmer....
with the Costal Rangers, he moved to Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
where he took a degree in Civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
(1968) and trained as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
(1970), both at Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
. During his time in Gothenburg, he where also involved in political groups that fought the proposed demolitions in the Haga
Haga, Gothenburg
Haga is a city district in Gothenburg, Sweden, renowned for its picturesque wooden houses, 19th century-atmosphere and cafés. Originally a working class suburb of the city with a rather bad reputation, it was gradually transformed into a popular visiting place for tourists and Gothenburgers...
district of Gothenburg.
From 1970 to 1973 Reepalu was employed by VBB, a building consultant firm. From 1973 he was employed as a urban planner
Urban planner
An urban planner or city planner is a professional who works in the field of urban planning/land use planning for the purpose of optimizing the effectiveness of a community's land use and infrastructure. They formulate plans for the development and management of urban and suburban areas, typically...
in Malmö, except between 1977 and 1979 when he was the acting head of urban planning in Borås.
Reepalu have expressed that he did not want to mix political assignments with his job as an urban planner, so when then-mayor Nils Yngvesson asked him in 1973 to sit for the Social Democrats at the building board of Malmö he declined. In 1984 he got his first political assignment, as a alternate member for the health board. The year after he was employed full-time as a politician, becoming a municipal commissioner
Municipal Commissioner
Municipal Commissioner is an office and political title in the municipalities of Sweden for councillors with executive responsibilities. The Commissioners are the only full-time employed office-holders outside the municipal civil service...
and in 1994 he was elected chairman of the municipal board.