Jan O. Karlsson
Encyclopedia
Jan Olov Karlsson Swedish
politician, former President of the European Court of Auditors
, and former Minister for Development Cooperation, Migration and Asylum Policy from 2002 and from September 11, 2003 to October 10, 2003 acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, following the murder of Anna Lindh
.
, before becoming an undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture in 1962. In 1968 he transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister
where he worked as an advisor. From 1973 he served as secretary to the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm
and in 1977 he became the deputy secretary for the presidency of the Nordic Council
. Following the election
in 1982 when the Social Democrats returned to power he was made state secretary at the Ministry of Finance. Following the election in 1988 he was instead made chairman for the government commission of inquiry on metropolitan areas, and in 1990 once again adviser and coordinator at the Prime Minister's Office.
Between 1991 and 1994 when the Social Democrats were out of office Mr. Karlsson worked as an advisor for the party parliamentary
group. In the fall of 1994 the Swedes went to the ballot box on two occasions. The first swept the Social Democrats back to power and in the second Sweden joined the European Union
. As a consequence of this Jan O. Karlsson was nominated by the Swedish Government
as its representative to the European Court of Auditors
in 1995, and on January 18, 1999 he became President of the Court. As the head of a principal organ in the European Union he held one of the most senior position within the European Union, number five in the top hierarchy. He held this position until December 31, 2001 when he resigned after being offered a cabinet post.
journalist. In spite of a number of minor political scandals - he, among other things, referred to George W. Bush
as "that damn Texan old man" ("den där jävla texasgubben") and abruptly murmured (with a microphone attached to his jacket) "now we better see an end to these gay issues" (nu får det väl vara slut på de här bögfrågorna) during a SIDA
conference - he was able to maintain the trust of Prime Minister Göran Persson
and keep his place in the Cabinet. His appointment as acting Minister for Foreign Affairs following the death of Anna Lindh
on September 11, 2003, was a short term solution. Changes in government, effective on October 10, forced him to resign his post.
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, former President of the European Court of Auditors
European Court of Auditors
The Court of Auditors is the fifth institution of the European Union . It was established in 1975 in Luxembourg to audit the accounts of EU institutions...
, and former Minister for Development Cooperation, Migration and Asylum Policy from 2002 and from September 11, 2003 to October 10, 2003 acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, following the murder of Anna Lindh
Anna Lindh
Ylva Anna Maria Lindh was a Swedish Social Democratic politician, Chairman of the Social Democratic Youth League 1984-1990, Member of Parliament 1982-1985 and 1998-2003...
.
Career
Jan O. Karlsson studied economics, political science and history at Stockholm UniversityStockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
, before becoming an undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture in 1962. In 1968 he transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
where he worked as an advisor. From 1973 he served as secretary to the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and in 1977 he became the deputy secretary for the presidency of the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
. Following the election
Elections in Sweden
Elections in the Kingdom of Sweden are held every four years, and determine the makeup of the legislative bodies on the three levels of administrative division in the country. At the highest level, these elections determine the allocation of seats in the Riksdag, the national legislative body of...
in 1982 when the Social Democrats returned to power he was made state secretary at the Ministry of Finance. Following the election in 1988 he was instead made chairman for the government commission of inquiry on metropolitan areas, and in 1990 once again adviser and coordinator at the Prime Minister's Office.
Between 1991 and 1994 when the Social Democrats were out of office Mr. Karlsson worked as an advisor for the party parliamentary
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...
group. In the fall of 1994 the Swedes went to the ballot box on two occasions. The first swept the Social Democrats back to power and in the second Sweden joined the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. As a consequence of this Jan O. Karlsson was nominated by the Swedish Government
Government of Sweden
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden is the supreme executive authority of Sweden. It consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. The Government is responsible for their actions to the Riksdag, which is the legislative assembly...
as its representative to the European Court of Auditors
European Court of Auditors
The Court of Auditors is the fifth institution of the European Union . It was established in 1975 in Luxembourg to audit the accounts of EU institutions...
in 1995, and on January 18, 1999 he became President of the Court. As the head of a principal organ in the European Union he held one of the most senior position within the European Union, number five in the top hierarchy. He held this position until December 31, 2001 when he resigned after being offered a cabinet post.
Minister
Jan O. Karlsson's tenure as minister was far from smooth, his relation with the local press was troublesome, often attributed to his late father, who also was a high ranking social democratic politician, who died of a heart attack during an interview with ajournalist. In spite of a number of minor political scandals - he, among other things, referred to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
as "that damn Texan old man" ("den där jävla texasgubben") and abruptly murmured (with a microphone attached to his jacket) "now we better see an end to these gay issues" (nu får det väl vara slut på de här bögfrågorna) during a SIDA
Sida
Sida may refer to:* Sida , a genus of cladoceran water fleas* Sida , a genus of flowering plants* SIDA, Security Identification Display Area, US FAA...
conference - he was able to maintain the trust of Prime Minister Göran Persson
Göran Persson
Hans Göran Persson was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006 and the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1996 to 2007. Conceding defeat in the September 2006 general election, he announced that he would resign as party leader, and Mona Sahlin was elected to succeed him as...
and keep his place in the Cabinet. His appointment as acting Minister for Foreign Affairs following the death of Anna Lindh
Anna Lindh
Ylva Anna Maria Lindh was a Swedish Social Democratic politician, Chairman of the Social Democratic Youth League 1984-1990, Member of Parliament 1982-1985 and 1998-2003...
on September 11, 2003, was a short term solution. Changes in government, effective on October 10, forced him to resign his post.