Thomas Östros
Encyclopedia
Thomas Östros is a Swedish
Social Democratic
politician
. He was Minister for Education from 1998 to 2004 and Minister for Industry and Trade from 2004 to 2006. Since October 2006 he is the deputy chairman of the Riksdag
's committee for Industry and Trade.
His parents changed the family name from Waaranperä to Östros when they moved from Norrland
to Västerås
.
Östros has a licentiate degree (a graduate degree in the Swedish university system) in economics from Uppsala University
. During his time at university, he was an active member of the local branch of Social Democratic Students of Sweden
. He also served as a councillor in the Uppsala Municipal Council.
In 1994 he was elected to the Riksdag
as a Member of Parliament
. In 1996 he became Minister for Taxation in the Ministry of Finance, and in 1998 Minister for Education and Science. On 1 November 2004 he switched posts with Minister for Industry and Trade Leif Pagrotsky
.
It has regularly been stated that former Prime Minister
Göran Persson
has a lot of confidence in Thomas Östros, and Östros was often mentioned in speculations about possible successors to Persson.
From early 2008 until 2011, he was the party's economic spokesperson, succeeding Pär Nuder
who got in trouble with party leader Mona Sahlin
. He was succeeded by Tommy Waidelich
in March 2011, following Håkan Juholt
's ascension to party chairman.
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....
Social Democratic
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was Minister for Education from 1998 to 2004 and Minister for Industry and Trade from 2004 to 2006. Since October 2006 he is the deputy chairman of the Riksdag
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...
's committee for Industry and Trade.
His parents changed the family name from Waaranperä to Östros when they moved from Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
to Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
.
Östros has a licentiate degree (a graduate degree in the Swedish university system) in economics from Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
. During his time at university, he was an active member of the local branch of Social Democratic Students of Sweden
Social Democratic Students of Sweden
The Social Democratic Students of Sweden is the student organization of the Swedish social democratic party Socialdemokraterna.Created again in 1990, the organisation today has about 1200 members spread out over the country, most of them being students at either universities or poly-technics...
. He also served as a councillor in the Uppsala Municipal Council.
In 1994 he was elected to the Riksdag
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...
as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. In 1996 he became Minister for Taxation in the Ministry of Finance, and in 1998 Minister for Education and Science. On 1 November 2004 he switched posts with Minister for Industry and Trade Leif Pagrotsky
Leif Pagrotsky
Leif Pagrotsky, born October 20, 1951 in Gothenburg, is a Swedish Social Democratic politician, who had various posts in the government of Göran Persson between 1996 and 2006.-Biography:...
.
It has regularly been stated that former 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...
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...
has a lot of confidence in Thomas Östros, and Östros was often mentioned in speculations about possible successors to Persson.
From early 2008 until 2011, he was the party's economic spokesperson, succeeding Pär Nuder
Pär Nuder
Pär Anders Nuder is a Swedish Social Democratic politician. He was the Minister of Finance between November 1, 2004 and October 6, 2006.Pär Nuder was born in Täby north of Stockholm, but grew up in Österåker, where he still resides...
who got in trouble with party leader Mona Sahlin
Mona Sahlin
Mona Ingeborg Sahlin is a Swedish politician and the former leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party.Sahlin has been a Member of Parliament, representing Stockholm County, from 1982 to 1996 and again since 2002. She has also held various ministerial posts in the Swedish government from 1990...
. He was succeeded by Tommy Waidelich
Tommy Waidelich
Tommy Waidelich is a Swedish social democratic politician.He has studied economics and geography at Stockholm University...
in March 2011, following Håkan Juholt
Håkan Juholt
Håkan Juholt, born 16 September 1962, is a Swedish photographer, journalist, and Social Democratic politician who has been a member of the Riksdag since 1994, representing Kalmar län...
's ascension to party chairman.