Lars Ohly
Encyclopedia
Lars-Magnus Harald Christoffer Ohly (ˈoːlʏ, AW-lee; born 13 January 1957) is a Swedish
politician
, currently serving as party chairman of the Swedish Left Party
, in August 2011 Ohly announced his resignation. He was elected party chairman on 20 February 2004, succeeding Ulla Hoffmann.
, Stockholm County
. His father, like all his forefathers for six generations, was a priest
. He grew up in various places around Stockholm. After finishing his gymnasium
(secondary) education in 1978, he started working at Statens Järnvägar
(Swedish State Railways), where he later became a conductor
. He is still employed at SJ but is on leave of absence since 1994.
Ohly became a member of the Liberal Youth of Sweden, the youth wing of the Liberal People's Party
, in 1970 but left shortly afterwards and became a communist
. He joined the Communist Youth
in 1978 and the Left Party
in 1979. He became a member of board of the Communist Youth in 1980, was elected as a substitute of the party board in 1987 and became a full member of the party board in 1990. From 1994 to 2000 he was party secretary
and in 2004 he was elected party chairman. He has been a Member of Parliament
since 1998.
Lars Ohly was in 2008 nominated for the award Kurd friend of the year (Swedish
: Årets kurdvän 2008). Årets kurdvän is one of the awards presented annually by the Kurdish gala jury that celebrates the active and successful Kurds and Kurdish friends in Sweden.
against Swedish football legend Nacka Skoglund
in a friendly match. The newspaper Dagens Nyheter
later revealed that this claim was most likely fictitious. When confronted about this, Ohly claimed it to be an indeliberate error on his part.
. On 5 October 2005, Uppdrag granskning
in Sveriges Television
(the Swedish public service television) aired a programme about Lars Ohly's background and views on democracy
. In the programme, Ohly was accused of trying to rewrite his own history and of hiding his past. Several quotes by Ohly were found where he defended the political systems of the Eastern bloc
. Several prominent party members, among them former party leader Lars Werner
, also witnessed about Ohly's views. It was also found that, in 2000, Ohly had reworded a letter of apology to the "Kiruna-Swedes" – victims of harassment from the Left Party after their return home from Soviet
custody – with a number of critical references to Joseph Stalin
being removed. The programme also showed that Ohly branded himself as a leninist
as late as 1999.
Following this controversy, the leaders of all the other parliamentary parties have urged Ohly to drop his adherence to communism. On 30 October 2005, Ohly declared on Swedish TV that he would stop labeling himself a communist. But he stressed at the same time that he would stay faithful to the ideals of communism and always would keep fighting for a "classless society
".
and socialist leadership, Ohly's membership in the Swedish-Cuban Association
became known. The Swedish-Cuban Association supported the government of Fidel Castro
in Cuba
and does not want to label the country as a dictatorship
. Ohly then released a statement that he considers Cuba to be a dictatorship and that he is critical of the lack of political freedom in Cuba, a statement which in response was criticized by the chairman of the Swedish-Cuban Association. In September 2005, Ohly declared that he had left the organisation.
, Ohly caused some controversy when he flipped the bird
at the right-wing commentator Marie Söderqvist for calling his leadership style typical of a communist. Ohly later apologized and said that he experienced a "temporary blackout".
and healthcare. However, both his children go to private school
s. Ohly says his children made their choices based on what was best for them, independent of his views on the matter. In 2010, he chose to have his meniscus
surgery at the private hospital
Sophiahemmet. A fan of leasehold estate
s over condominium
s, Ohly himself made a considerabe profit from a four-room condominium in the Stockholm City Centre
which he bought in 2006 and sold in 2010.
. In September 2010, he claimed this a false quote political opponents and op-ed
writers (primarily Peter Wolodarski, political editor at Dagens Nyheter
) keep attributing to him. When reporter Janne Josefsson
of Uppdrag Granskning
confronted him with an interview clip from 2004 where the statement was uttered, Ohly refused to watch it. Instead, he claimed to have been happy about the events at the time, mentioning that his best friend had sent him a joyous text message from Prague
in 1989 when the city was being liberated
. This is impossible, however, since at that point in time, the world's first text message was three years in future.
Congress in 1983
"The socialist states have in contrast to the imperialist states an objective interest in peace. The socialist states are forced to rearm in order not to risk their own extinction." Speech by Lars Ohly to the Communist Youth
Congress in 1983
"...that we clearly take a stand against reformist and non-Leninist elements and tendencies in the youth movement." Article signed by Lars Ohly in 1983
"When we write about the socialist countries in Röd Press, we should focus on uncovering bourgeois myths, not spreading them." Lars Ohly, after a mildly critical article in Röd Press (newspaper published by Communist Youth
) about the situation in the GDR
"Restricting the democratic liberties and rights may be used in the interest of the working class." Lars Ohly in an op-ed in the Communist youth Internal Journal in 1983
"It may well be that restricting the democratic rights and liberties is the only option for the working class to defend the greatest democratic reform we know of - the abolition of exploitation and capitalism." Lars Ohly in an op-ed in the Communist youth Internal Journal
. He has two children from a previous marriage.
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 party chairman of the Swedish Left Party
Left Party (Sweden)
The Left Party is a socialist and feminist political party in Sweden, from 1967 to 1990 known as the Left Party – The Communists .On welfare issues, the party opposes privatizations...
, in August 2011 Ohly announced his resignation. He was elected party chairman on 20 February 2004, succeeding Ulla Hoffmann.
Early life and career
Lars Ohly was born in SpångaSpånga
Spånga is a community and parish in Stockholm County, Sweden.-Background:Spånga was an independent municipality until January 1, 1949 when most of it was merged with the City of Stockholm, with smaller portions of the area merging with Solna, Sundbyberg, and Sollentuna municipalities.Spånga was...
, Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
. His father, like all his forefathers for six generations, was a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He grew up in various places around Stockholm. After finishing his gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(secondary) education in 1978, he started working at Statens Järnvägar
Statens Järnvägar
The Swedish State Railways or SJ, originally the Royal Railway Board , is a former government agency responsible for operating the state railways in Sweden....
(Swedish State Railways), where he later became a conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
. He is still employed at SJ but is on leave of absence since 1994.
Ohly became a member of the Liberal Youth of Sweden, the youth wing of the Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
, in 1970 but left shortly afterwards and became a communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. He joined the Communist Youth
Young Left (Sweden)
Young Left is the youth organization of the Swedish Left Party.-Ideology:It is an organization that organizes the youth of today to fight for socialist and feminist social change. Young Left is a youth organization developed out of the labour movement, with influences from environmentalism, the...
in 1978 and the Left Party
Left Party (Sweden)
The Left Party is a socialist and feminist political party in Sweden, from 1967 to 1990 known as the Left Party – The Communists .On welfare issues, the party opposes privatizations...
in 1979. He became a member of board of the Communist Youth in 1980, was elected as a substitute of the party board in 1987 and became a full member of the party board in 1990. From 1994 to 2000 he was party secretary
Party secretary
In politics, a party secretary is a senior official within a political party with responsibility for the organizational and daily political work. In most parties, the party secretary is second in rank to the party leader ....
and in 2004 he was elected party chairman. He 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 1998.
Lars Ohly was in 2008 nominated for the award Kurd friend of the year (Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
: Årets kurdvän 2008). Årets kurdvän is one of the awards presented annually by the Kurdish gala jury that celebrates the active and successful Kurds and Kurdish friends in Sweden.
Nacka Skoglund
During his first weeks as party chairman, Ohly claimed in an interview to once have, as a boy, played footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
against Swedish football legend Nacka Skoglund
Lennart Skoglund
Karl Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund, , was a Swedish football player.-Biography:Nicknamed through-out his career as Nacka , Lennart Skoglund was a star of two Swedish World Cup sides in the 1950s. First as a young inside-left in 1950 and then as a mature left winger on home soil in 1958...
in a friendly match. The newspaper Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
later revealed that this claim was most likely fictitious. When confronted about this, Ohly claimed it to be an indeliberate error on his part.
Being a communist or not
Lars Ohly used to be an outspoken communistCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. On 5 October 2005, Uppdrag granskning
Uppdrag granskning
Uppdrag granskning is a Swedish television program focusing on investigative journalism. The program is produced by and aired on SVT and has become known for the use of concealed cameras and microphones....
in Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
(the Swedish public service television) aired a programme about Lars Ohly's background and views on democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. In the programme, Ohly was accused of trying to rewrite his own history and of hiding his past. Several quotes by Ohly were found where he defended the political systems of the Eastern bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
. Several prominent party members, among them former party leader Lars Werner
Lars Werner
Lars Helge Werner is a Swedish politician. A construction worker by profession, he was elected the chairman of the Left Party - Communists in 1975 and was a member of the Swedish parliament from 1965 to 1994. During his time as party leader, in 1990, the party changed its name to the Left Party,...
, also witnessed about Ohly's views. It was also found that, in 2000, Ohly had reworded a letter of apology to the "Kiruna-Swedes" – victims of harassment from the Left Party after their return home from Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
custody – with a number of critical references to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
being removed. The programme also showed that Ohly branded himself as a leninist
Leninism
In Marxist philosophy, Leninism is the body of political theory for the democratic organisation of a revolutionary vanguard party, and the achievement of a direct-democracy dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism...
as late as 1999.
Following this controversy, the leaders of all the other parliamentary parties have urged Ohly to drop his adherence to communism. On 30 October 2005, Ohly declared on Swedish TV that he would stop labeling himself a communist. But he stressed at the same time that he would stay faithful to the ideals of communism and always would keep fighting for a "classless society
Classless society
Classless society refers to a society in which no one is born into a social class. Such distinctions of wealth, income, education, culture, or social network might arise and would only be determined by individual experience and achievement in such a society.Since these distinctions are difficult to...
".
Swedish-Cuban Association
During the controversy regarding Ohly's views on communism and his definition of socialismSocialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and socialist leadership, Ohly's membership in the Swedish-Cuban Association
Swedish-Cuban Association
The Swedish–Cuban Association is a Swedish-based organization supporting strengthened political ties between Sweden and Cuba. The Swedish–Cuban Association presents itself as a "politically unrestricted friendship association" with the objective of "supporting the socialist revolution on Cuba and...
became known. The Swedish-Cuban Association supported the government of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and does not want to label the country as a dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
. Ohly then released a statement that he considers Cuba to be a dictatorship and that he is critical of the lack of political freedom in Cuba, a statement which in response was criticized by the chairman of the Swedish-Cuban Association. In September 2005, Ohly declared that he had left the organisation.
Flipping the bird during a live debate
During a live debate on Swedish TV4 on 18 September 2006, the day after the Swedish general electionSwedish general election, 2006
A general election was held in Sweden on 17 September 2006, to elect members to the Swedish parliament. All 349 seats were up for election: 310 "fixed seats" in 29 constituencies and 39 members at a national level for what are called "adjustment seats", used to ensure that parties have...
, Ohly caused some controversy when he flipped the bird
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
at the right-wing commentator Marie Söderqvist for calling his leadership style typical of a communist. Ohly later apologized and said that he experienced a "temporary blackout".
Choosing private welfare
Ohly is strongly opposed to letting privately-owned companies operate in industries traditionally controlled by the Swedish state, for instance educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and healthcare. However, both his children go to private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s. Ohly says his children made their choices based on what was best for them, independent of his views on the matter. In 2010, he chose to have his meniscus
Meniscus
The meniscus is the curve in the upper surface of a liquid close to the surface of the container or another object, caused by surface tension. It can be either convex or concave. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the material of the...
surgery at the private hospital
Private hospital
A private hospital is a hospital owned by a profit company or a non-profit organisation and privately funded through payment for medical services by patients themselves, by insurers, or by foreign embassies. This practice is very common in the United States and Australia...
Sophiahemmet. A fan of leasehold estate
Leasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
s over condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s, Ohly himself made a considerabe profit from a four-room condominium in the Stockholm City Centre
Stockholm City Centre
Stockholm City Centre is the city centre of Stockholm in Sweden. The entire city of Stockholm is also the centre of the Stockholm Metropolitan Area....
which he bought in 2006 and sold in 2010.
Reacting to the fall of Communism
Ohly is often cited to have said he cried tears of sadness when learning of the tearing down of the Berlin WallBerlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
. In September 2010, he claimed this a false quote political opponents and op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
writers (primarily Peter Wolodarski, political editor at Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
) keep attributing to him. When reporter Janne Josefsson
Janne Josefsson
Janne Josefsson is a Swedish investigative journalist who has had numerous shows on Sveriges Television such as Fittja Paradiso, Uppdrag Granskning and Debatt. Uppdrag Granskning has uncovered some of Swedens most noted scandals such as the ICA meat repackaging controversy, and have both received...
of Uppdrag Granskning
Uppdrag granskning
Uppdrag granskning is a Swedish television program focusing on investigative journalism. The program is produced by and aired on SVT and has become known for the use of concealed cameras and microphones....
confronted him with an interview clip from 2004 where the statement was uttered, Ohly refused to watch it. Instead, he claimed to have been happy about the events at the time, mentioning that his best friend had sent him a joyous text message from Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in 1989 when the city was being liberated
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
. This is impossible, however, since at that point in time, the world's first text message was three years in future.
Quotes
"The socialist states are by their very existence and their example a bulwark for peace and socialism in the world." Speech by Lars Ohly to the Communist YouthYoung Left (Sweden)
Young Left is the youth organization of the Swedish Left Party.-Ideology:It is an organization that organizes the youth of today to fight for socialist and feminist social change. Young Left is a youth organization developed out of the labour movement, with influences from environmentalism, the...
Congress in 1983
"The socialist states have in contrast to the imperialist states an objective interest in peace. The socialist states are forced to rearm in order not to risk their own extinction." Speech by Lars Ohly to the Communist Youth
Young Left (Sweden)
Young Left is the youth organization of the Swedish Left Party.-Ideology:It is an organization that organizes the youth of today to fight for socialist and feminist social change. Young Left is a youth organization developed out of the labour movement, with influences from environmentalism, the...
Congress in 1983
"...that we clearly take a stand against reformist and non-Leninist elements and tendencies in the youth movement." Article signed by Lars Ohly in 1983
"When we write about the socialist countries in Röd Press, we should focus on uncovering bourgeois myths, not spreading them." Lars Ohly, after a mildly critical article in Röd Press (newspaper published by Communist Youth
Young Left (Sweden)
Young Left is the youth organization of the Swedish Left Party.-Ideology:It is an organization that organizes the youth of today to fight for socialist and feminist social change. Young Left is a youth organization developed out of the labour movement, with influences from environmentalism, the...
) about the situation in the GDR
"Restricting the democratic liberties and rights may be used in the interest of the working class." Lars Ohly in an op-ed in the Communist youth Internal Journal in 1983
"It may well be that restricting the democratic rights and liberties is the only option for the working class to defend the greatest democratic reform we know of - the abolition of exploitation and capitalism." Lars Ohly in an op-ed in the Communist youth Internal Journal
Personal life
Lars Ohly currently lives with his wife Åsa Hagelstedt in a condominium just south of Stockholm City CentreStockholm City Centre
Stockholm City Centre is the city centre of Stockholm in Sweden. The entire city of Stockholm is also the centre of the Stockholm Metropolitan Area....
. He has two children from a previous marriage.
External links
- Lars Ohly at the Left PartyLeft Party (Sweden)The Left Party is a socialist and feminist political party in Sweden, from 1967 to 1990 known as the Left Party – The Communists .On welfare issues, the party opposes privatizations...
's website - Lars Ohly at the Swedish parliamentParliament 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...
's website