Ann Linde | |
|---|---|
 Linde in 2016 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 10 September 2019 – 18 October 2022 | |
| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Löfven Magdalena Andersson |
| Preceded by | Margot Wallström |
| Succeeded by | Tobias Billström |
| Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 1 January 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Edi Rama |
| Succeeded by | Zbigniew Rau |
| Minister for Nordic Cooperation | |
| In office 21 January 2019 – 10 September 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Löfven |
| Preceded by | Margot Wallström |
| Succeeded by | Anna Hallberg |
| Minister of Foreign Trade | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 10 September 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Löfven |
| Preceded by | Mikael Damberg |
| Succeeded by | Anna Hallberg |
| Minister for EU Affairs | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 21 January 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Löfven |
| Preceded by | Birgitta Ohlsson (2010–14) |
| Succeeded by | Hans Dahlgren |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ann Christin Linde (1961-12-04)4 December 1961 (age 63) Helsingborg, Sweden |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Politician |
Ann Christin Linde (born 4 December 1961) is a Swedish politician of theSocial Democratic Party[1] who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in thegovernment ofPrime Minister Stefan Löfven andMagdalena Andersson from 2019 to 2022.[2][3]
Linde previously served asMinister of Foreign Trade andMinister for Nordic Cooperation.[4] Before that, she was theMinister for European Union Affairs and Trade for theLöfven Cabinet from 25 May 2016.[5]
Throughout the 1990s, Linde worked in government offices, including as the Ministry Secretary ofCivil Affairs and the political advisor of the EU andTrade MinisterMats Hellström of Foreign Affairs and of Defense MinisterBjörn von Sydow onMinistry of Defence.[6]
Linde worked as international secretary at the Social Democratic Party in Sweden from 2000 to 2013. From 2013 to 2014, she was the head of the International Department of theEuropean Socialist Party (PES) in Brussels, an umbrella organization for all social-democratic parties in the EU.[3]
From 2014 until 2016, Linde served as State Secretary for theMinistry of Justice[7] In this capacity, she worked withInterior MinisterAnders Ygeman.[citation needed]
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Linde was appointed minister for foreign affairs followingMargot Wallström's resignation on 10 September 2019.
Under Linde's leadership, Sweden's government decided in March 2020 to send a rapid reaction force of up to 150 troops and helicopters toMali to join French-ledTakuba task force in fighting militants linked toal Qaeda andIslamic State in theSahel region of North Africa.[8] By early 2022, Linde announced that Sweden would withdraw troops from a European special forces mission to the Sahel region and will review its participation in the Takuba task force over the presence of private Russian military contractors.[9]
When Sweden took over the rotating Chair of theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2021, Linde became the organization's Chairperson-in-Office.[10][11]
On 1 May 2022, she expressed that it was "almost certain" thatFinland would joinNATO.[12] While most current NATO members responded positively to the application, Turkish presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced his opposition, accusing both Sweden and Finland of toleratingKurdish militant groupsPKK,PYD and theYPG, whichTurkey classifies as terrorist organizations,[13] and followers ofFethullah Gülen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating a failed2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt.[14] On 20 May, Linde pushed back against Erdoğan's claim they support PKK, calling it "disinformation", and pointing out Sweden listed PKK as a terrorist organization in 1984, while the EU followed suit in 2002.[15]
On 29 July, Linde announced that the ministry of foreign affairs would call in the Russian ambassador to explain himself in the wake of him mocking a Swedish volunteer soldier who died in a grenade attack in theDonbas region in Ukraine. She called his words "reprehensible and tasteless", with her full statement saying: "The text his reprehensible and tasteless. The ambassador doesn't mention at all that it was Russia who started the war, but only Russia can stop it".[16]
When a parliamentary majority in favour of Sweden expressing the option of joiningNATO emerged in 2020, Linde rejected such plans and reiterated her conviction that the country was best served by independence from alliances.[17]
Linde attracted criticism for wearing a headscarf during a visit by a government delegation to Tehran in 2017 when she met presidentHassan Rouhani.[18]
Being State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Linde was one of the first politicians in the Government Offices who received information from theSecurity Department that there was a potential leak of sensitive information from theTransport Agency. The agency had outsourced parts of its IT services, including a data base with information about holders of driving licences, as well as about the Swedish road infrastructure.[19]
AsMinister of Foreign Trade, Linde took part in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of theIslamic Revolution in Iran. Linde's participation was criticized by Iraniancommunity organizations in Sweden, who argued that Linde's participation in the celebration was an insult to all Iranians living in Sweden who had to flee the Islamic regime.[20]
Finland: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Lion of Finland (17 May 2022)[25]
Spain: Grand Cross of theOrder of Isabella the Catholic (16 November 2021)[26]Since 1989, Linde has been married to Mats Eriksson.[27] She has two children.[27]
Media related toAnn Linde at Wikimedia Commons
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by Birgitta Ohlsson | Minister for European Union Affairs 2016–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Trade 2016–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Nordic Cooperation 2019 | |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs 2019–2022 | Succeeded by | |
