Tobias Billström
Encyclopedia
Tobias Lennart Billström (born 27 December 1973 in Malmö
) is a Swedish
politician
currently serving as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy in the Swedish government
. Billström, a member of the Moderate Party
, has been a Member of Parliament
since 2002 representing Malmö Municipality
(seat 122). Due to Billström's duties as a minister, his seat in the parliament is currently occupied by his replacement, Staffan Appelros
. Billström was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Insurance, and has also been Moderate Party spokesperson for migration and integration. He is chairman for the Moderate Party in Malmö
.
In addition to his Migration portfolio, Billström was appointed temporary Minister for Employment by Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt
, following Sven Otto Littorin's immediate resignation on 7 July 2010.
Billström has a Master's degree in history
and political science
from Lund University
, and a Master's degree in Historical studies from University of Cambridge
. Billström was appointed as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy on 6 October 2006 in the centre-right cabinet
led by Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt
.
At the age of , Billström is the youngest member of the cabinet. He is also the first openly bisexual
person to serve as minister in a Swedish cabinet.
for ten years, despite owning a television. Billström stated that his neglect was based on his political standpoint against public service
, but that he had come to appreciate public service and that he believed that citizens and especially legislators should follow the law. Billström also expressed his ambition to repay his debt with interest. However, on 12 October 2006, Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB
, a private agency tasked with collecting the license fees, filed criminal charges against Billström together with two other ministers in the Reinfeldt Cabinet: Cecilia Stegö Chilò
and Maria Borelius
, with the latter two resigning on 14 October and 16 October 2006. Billström has stated that he intends to remain in office and has no intention of resigning.
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...
) is a Swedish
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...
currently serving as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy in 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...
. Billström, a member of the Moderate Party
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
, has been a Member of Parliament
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...
since 2002 representing Malmö Municipality
Malmö Municipality
Malmö Municipality is a municipality in Skåne County in Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Malmö.When the first Swedish local government acts were implemented in 1863 the old City of Malmö was made one of the country's 88 city municipalities and the first city council was elected...
(seat 122). Due to Billström's duties as a minister, his seat in the parliament is currently occupied by his replacement, Staffan Appelros
Staffan Appelros
Staffan Appelros, born in 1950, is a Swedish politician of the Moderate Party. He has been a member of the Riksdag since 2007 as a replacement for the Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Tobias Billström.- External links :*...
. Billström was a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Insurance, and has also been Moderate Party spokesperson for migration and integration. He is chairman for the Moderate Party in 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...
.
In addition to his Migration portfolio, Billström was appointed temporary Minister for Employment by 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...
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Fredrik Reinfeldt
John Fredrik Reinfeldt is the Prime Minister of Sweden, leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party and former President of the European Council...
, following Sven Otto Littorin's immediate resignation on 7 July 2010.
Billström has a Master's degree in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
, and a Master's degree in Historical studies from University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Billström was appointed as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy on 6 October 2006 in the centre-right cabinet
Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt
The cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt is the current cabinet of Sweden. It is a coalition cabinet consisting of the four parties in the centre-right Alliance for Sweden: the Moderate Party, Centre Party, Liberal People's Party and the Christian Democrats...
led by 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...
Fredrik Reinfeldt
Fredrik Reinfeldt
John Fredrik Reinfeldt is the Prime Minister of Sweden, leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party and former President of the European Council...
.
At the age of , Billström is the youngest member of the cabinet. He is also the first openly bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
person to serve as minister in a Swedish cabinet.
TV license controversy
On 11 October 2006, less than a week after he took office, it was revealed that Billström deliberately had neglected to pay his television licenceTelevision licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
for ten years, despite owning a television. Billström stated that his neglect was based on his political standpoint against public service
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
, but that he had come to appreciate public service and that he believed that citizens and especially legislators should follow the law. Billström also expressed his ambition to repay his debt with interest. However, on 12 October 2006, Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB
Radiotjänst i Kiruna
Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB is Sweden's TV licensing body. It is a private corporation, formed in 1988 and based in Kiruna. The company is a subsidiary of the three Swedish public service broadcasters Sveriges Television, Sveriges Radio and Sveriges Utbildningsradio...
, a private agency tasked with collecting the license fees, filed criminal charges against Billström together with two other ministers in the Reinfeldt Cabinet: Cecilia Stegö Chilò
Cecilia Stegö Chilò
Marie Cecilia Stegö Chilò was the Swedish Minister for Culture for ten days, from October 6, 2006 to October 16, 2006. Prior to her appointment as a cabinet member she was Chief executive officer of the Swedish Free Enterprise Foundation , and Director of Timbro, a neoliberal, free-market...
and Maria Borelius
Maria Borelius
Maria Sigrid Astrid Borelius is a Swedish journalist, entrepreneur and former politician. Following the 2006 Swedish general election she was elected a Member of Parliament for the Moderate Party, and on 6 October 2006 she was presented as Minister for Foreign Trade in Fredrik Reinfeldt's new...
, with the latter two resigning on 14 October and 16 October 2006. Billström has stated that he intends to remain in office and has no intention of resigning.
External links
- Official website
- Tobias Billström at the Government Offices website
- Tobias Billström at the RiksdagParliament of SwedenThe 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...
website - Billström's blog (inactive)