Björn von Sydow

Infobox_Politician
name =Björn von Sydow

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birth_date =birth date and age|1945|11|26
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office = Minister for Defence
term_start =1997
term_end =2002
predecessor = Thage G. Peterson
successor = Leni Björklund
constituency =
office2 = Speaker of the Riksdag
term_start2 =2002
term_end2 =2006
predecessor2 =Birgitta Dahl
successor2 =Per Westerberg
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party = Social Democratic Party
religion =
occupation = politician
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Björn Gustaf von Sydow (born November 26, 1945) was the speaker ("talman") of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament. He held this office following the 2002 election, when he succeeded Birgitta Dahl, until he was replaced on October 2, 2006. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he had been Minister of Defence in Göran Persson's government between 1997 and 2002, preceded by a short term as Minister of Trade.

Apart from leading the Riksdag debates, von Sydow also served as head of state in the absence of the King and his three children, "e.g." if they all went on a journey abroad.

The speaker also had a key role when the government resigned. However, when Göran Persson asked for his resignation after the lost 2006 election, the parliamentary situation was very clear, so already on September 19, 2006 Sydow could formally ask Fredrik Reinfeldt to begin the formation of a new government to take office after the new Riksdag has assembled to approve it. On October 2, 2006, the changed majority situation in the Riksdag also had Sydow replaced by Moderate Party politician and previous Vice Speaker Per Westerberg. Already before the election, Sydow had stated that he was not interested in a Vice Speaker position, so that office went to fellow Social Democrat Jan Björkman. [ [http://www.riksdagen.se/Webbnav/index.aspx?nid=45&sq=1&ID=ecwgbx7D6_A_2 Press release from the Riksdag] , October 2, 2006]

Björn von Sydow has taken his mother's surname and is a distant relative of the actor Max von Sydow.Fact|date=May 2007 He lives in Solna outside Stockholm, is married and has four children.

References

External links

* [http://www.riksdagen.se/templates/R_Page____1059.aspx Curriculum Vitae in English]

Persondata
NAME=Sydow, Björn von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sydow, Bjorn von (English)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Politician
DATE OF BIRTH=November 26, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sweden
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=