Goran Persson, Sweden's forceful new head of Government

Scandinavian Review, Winter 1996 by Jonsson, Anders

Sweden has a prime minister who did not want to become prime minister. Goran Persson's response to questioners was NO, NO, NO. He could not imagine becoming prime minister and chairman of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. This was something neither he nor his family wanted. He was content with being finance minister.

This was Persson's litany from the day in August 1995 when Ingvar Carlsson announced his plans to step down as prime minister until December 5, when Persson reversed himself and said YES.

There were probably no false modesty or tactics behind Persson's categorical NO.

From the start, the assumption was that Deputy Prime Minister Mona Sahlin would succeed Ingvar Carlsson. She had already reached an agreement with Persson and others to this effect. But Sahlin had to step aside after a newspaper revealed that she had taken out an advance on her paycheck using her government credit card and had been late in paying the day care fees for her children. In the end, Persson remained as the only conceivable candidate for party chairman.

In a different situation, this decision would have been far from uncontroversial. Goran Persson had not been particularly popular, either in the Executive Committee or in the party's parliamentary caucus. He was perceived as condescending and nonchalant; he only attended those meetings that suited him and cared little about what others thought of him. His behavior caused resentment, especially among women.

Nor had Persson belonged to the party's inner circle for very long. Only in 1993, after his party colleague Allan Larsson proved unsuccessful in the role of finance minister and later of opposition economic spokesman, did Persson take over. At that point, he was elected to the Executive Committee.

Privately, Persson himself often points out that he was not part of the Social Democratic inner circle until recently and that since he did not belong to the Stockholm establishment, he had had little influence in the small circle where the real decision-making takes place.

Revenge

Goran Persson sees himself as a person who has had to fight his way up from meager circumstances in his native Vingaker, a town in rural Sormland County some 150 km (90 miles) from Stockholm.

He was the first member of his family who had the chance to go to college, but he discontinued his university studies at the age of 22 to become the Organizing Secretary of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth Organization. Since then, he has worked as a full-time politician as a member of the Riksdag (Parliament), municipal commissioner in his native Katrineholm, school minister and finance minister.

On several occasions over the years, he became despondent and was close to leaving politics, for example, when he lost his bid for the position of party secretary to Mona Sahlin after the Social Democrats were defeated in the 1991 election. Persson, who felt he was being banished to the role of opposition spokesman for agricultural and environmental affairs, pondered a future as an independent consultant.

A desire for revenge may well explain the frenzy with which Persson took on his duties when he finally achieved the power that comes with membership in the inner circle. In fact, he has taken full advantage of the extremely strong position enjoyed by a newly elected Social Democratic party chairman and prime minister.

Rather than implement the minor cabinet reshuffle that tradition calls for, Persson engineered an immediate shake-up so that he could appoint "his government." Persson is known for being businesslike and unsentimental; people who don't fit a job must leave. His tough language also alienates some people, even when he means no offense.

Quite unlike previous Social Democratic prime ministers, Persson also has strong views about what staff members his cabinet ministers should choose. All political appointees should feel that they are there because of Persson's mandate; everyone should know who has the final say.

Strong Leader

In other words, Persson's image is that of a very powerful prime minister who knows what he wants.

"Actions speak louder than words."

"You have to conquer the agenda. If you conquer the agenda, you eventually conquer politics."

These two typical statements indicate how he perceives his job. Last spring when the minority Social Democratic government was thrown off guard by the opposition - which forced the scheduling of a parliamentary debate on the employment issue in the middle of summer recess Persson also acted immediately. In order to regain the initiative, he hastily put together a jobs plan in partnership with the Center Party.

He is single-minded, plans long-term policies past the next election and does not hesitate to ride roughshod over short-term interests that go against his strategy.

This approach has, for example, led him to clash openly with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) in a way that no previous Social Democratic prime minister has done. Persson even adds fuel to the image of LO as an obstructionist organization.