Gösta Bohman

Bo Gösta Bohman (15 January 1911 – 12 August 1997) was a Swedish politician and the leader of the Swedish liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1970 to 1981, during a period in which the party strengthened its position in Swedish politics. He served as Minister for the Economy during the three-party centre-right Swedish governments 1976-1978 and 1979-1981. He has since become a model for many Moderate politicians, especially in the Moderate Youth League.

His leadership saw a period of liberalisation of the Moderate policies, a process which continues to this day.

He was known for his love for the Stockholm archipelago, where he had a house on a little island in an archipelago named Sundskär located within the Norrtälje Municipality, and often used similies inspired by it in speech and articles. His book "Thoughts On My Sweden" ("Tankar om mitt Sverige") outlined his political views in this context. He also wrote the book "Sundskär, En övärld i havsbandet" ("Sundskär, An archipelago neighboring the sea").

Life before politics

Gösta Bohman was the son of the liberal managing director Conrad Bohman from Småland, and his wife Berta (formerly Gabrielsson). After finishing elementary school Bohman studied at the Svea Artillery Regiment and took his place as reserve officer in Kristianstad 1932. Four years later he attained a Bachelor's Degree in Jurisprudence. In 1939 he married Gunnel Mossberg, a librarian.