Jan Björklund

Infobox_Politician
name = Jan Björklund


width =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|4|18|df=yes
birth_place = Skene, Sweden
residence =
office = Minister for Schools
term_start = 6 October 2006
term_end =
predecessor = Ibrahim Baylan
office2 = Chairman of the Liberal People's Party
term_start2 = 7 September 2007
term_end2 =
predecessor2 = Lars Leijonborg
successor2 =
successor =
party = Liberal People's Party
religion =
occupation = Politician, military officer

Jan Arne Björklund (born 18 April 1962) is a Swedish politician, currently serving as chairman of the Liberal People's Party and as Minister for Education in the Swedish government.

Background and military career

Jan Björklund was born in Skene (today a part of Mark Municipality), Älvsborg County (today Västra Götaland County), Sweden. His father was the owner of a hardware store and his mother came to Sweden from Norway as a war refugee in 1945. Jan Björklund served as an officer in the Swedish Armed Forces from 1982 to 1994. He started as an Officer Cadet at Älvsborg Regiment (I15) in Borås and later became a Major at the royal Life Guards ( _sv. Livgardet) in Stockholm.

Political career

Björklund early became active in the Liberal Youth of Sweden, the youth wing of the Liberal People's Party. He served as chairman of the Southern Älvsborg district in the early 1980s and as second deputy chairman of the organization from 1985 to 1987. He was elected to the board of the Liberal Party as a representative of the youth wing in 1987, and as an independent in 1990. Björklund then engaged in Stockholm local politics and served as opposition councillor ( _sv. oppositionsborgarråd) in Stockholm Municipality from 1994 to 1998 and again from 2002 to 2006. From 1998 to 2002 he served as Stockholm Municipal Commissioner for Schools ( _sv. skolborgarråd). He was elected second deputy chairman of the Liberal Party in 1997 and first deputy chairman in 2001.

Prior to both the 2002 and 2006 general elections, Björklund was chairman of the centre-right alliance's working group on education policy. Following the victory in the 2006 election, Björklund was appointed Minister for Schools in the new cabinet. His areas of responsibility include the pre-school system, primary and upper secondary schools, adult education, vocational education and training, and popular adult education.

Following Lars Leijonborgs decision to retire as party chairman at the Liberal Party's national meeting in September 2007, Björklund was unanimously nominated by the party's election committee as new party chairman.cite news |first=James |last=Savage |title=Björklund nominated as Liberal leader |url=http://www.thelocal.se/7613/20070615/ |publisher=The Local |language=English |date=2007-06-15 |accessdate=2007-06-15] As expected, Björklund was elected new party leader at the party's congress on 7 September 2007.

Political views

Björklund is often seen as a representative of the more right-wing, hard-edged faction of the Liberal Party. He has focused most on school issues, where he is known for his support for orderliness and discipline. He has criticized the Swedish schools system for being to "muddled" and not focusing enough on knowledge. Among other things, he has advocated more frequent assessments and a reformed grade system.

In 2002, as first deputy chairman of his party, Björklund expressed his support for the coming U.S. invasion of Iraq and urged for Swedish participation in the multinational coalition. [cite news |title=Björklund (fp) vill ha svensk trupp i Irak-krig |url=http://www.sr.se/Ekot/arkiv.asp?Artikel=150837 |publisher=Ekot |language=Swedish |date=2002-11-24 |accessdate=2007-06-15]

Personal life

Jan Björklund is married and has two sons. He lives with his family in Bromma in western Stockholm.

References

External links

* [http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/7526 Jan Björklund] at the Swedish government's website en icon
* [http://www.folkpartiet.se/FPTemplates/PersonalPage____3465.aspx Jan Björklund] at the Liberal People's Party's website sv icon

Persondata
NAME=Björklund, Jan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bjorklund, Jan (English); Björklund, Jan Arne (full name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Politician
DATE OF BIRTH=18 April 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH=Skene, Sweden
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=