Maud Olofsson

Maud Olofsson
Leader of the Swedish Centre Party
In office 19 March 2001 – 23 September 2011
Preceded by	Lennart Daléus
Succeeded by	Annie Lööf
Minister for Enterprise and Energy
In office 2006–2011
Preceded by	Thomas Östros
Succeeded by	Annie Lööf
Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
In office 2006–2010
Prime Minister	Fredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded by	Bo Ringholm
Succeeded by	Jan Björklund
Personal details
Born	9 August 1955 (1955-08-09) (age 56) Aranäs, Ångermanland, Sweden
Political party	Centre Party
Spouse(s)	Rolf Olofsson
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Christian

Maud Elisabeth Olofsson (born Olsson 9 August 1955, Arnäsvall, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Ångermanland) is a Swedish politician, the former leader of the Centre Party of Sweden (Centerpartiet) between 2001-2011, and the former Minister for Enterprise and Energy between 2006 and 2011. She served as Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden between 2006 and 2010.

Biography

Maud Olofsson grew up in Högbyn, in Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Västernorrland. She started her political career as an ombudsman of the youth organisation of the Centre Party in 1974, and served as a member of the local council in Luleå from 1976. From 1978 to 1981 she held the same job with the party. From 1992 to 1994, during the Carl Bildt centre-right government, she worked as Special Adviser to Minister Börje Hörnlund at the Department of Labour. From 1996 she has been a member of the Centre Party board. From 1997 to 2001 she worked as Managing Director for the Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies (Hushållningssällskapet) in Västerbotten. She was elected Party Leader on 19 March 2001, succeeding Lennart Daléus.

Her political standpoint could be seen as a traditional Centre Party position, with an emphasis on rural Sweden and the survival of rural communities, combined with centre-right economic policies. It was however a remarkable new feature in the history of the Centre Party, when Maud Olofsson characterized her party's ideology as Social Liberalism. Although the Centre Party in history has sometimes cooperated with the governing Social Democrats, under Maud Olofsson the party opted for a clear oppositional role, strengthening its alliance with the Liberals, the Christian Democrats and the Moderate Party.

Following its victory in the elections in 2006, this alliance was able to form a new government under Fredrik Reinfeldt. Maud Olofsson was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy.

Maud Olofsson is married to Rolf, with whom she has three children.

External links

• Centre Party
• Swedish Parliament: Maud Olofsson

Party political offices
Preceded by Lennart Daléus	Leader of the Swedish Centre Party 2001—2011	Succeeded by Annie Lööf
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Östros	Minister for Enterprise and Energy 2006—2011	Succeeded by Annie Lööf

Persondata
Name	Olofsson, Maud
Alternative names	Olofsson, Maud Elisabeth (full name), Olsson, Maud (birth name)
Short description	Politician
Date of birth	9 August 1955
Place of birth	Ångermanland, Sweden
Date of death
Place of death