- Thomas Östros
Infobox Person
image_size = 150px
name = Thomas Östros
caption =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1965|1|26|mf=y
birth_place = Gällivare, Norrbotten
death_date =
death_place =
occupation =politician
spouse =
religion =
nationality = SwedishThomas Östros (born
January 26 ,1965 in Gällivare, Norrbotten) is a Swedish Social Democraticpolitician . He was Minister for Industry and Trade 2004-2006 and Minister for Education 1998-2004. Since October 2006 he is the deputy chairman of theRiksdag s committee for Industry and Trade.Östros has a
licentiate degree (a graduate degree in the Swedish university system) in economics fromUppsala University . During his time at university, he was an active member of the local branch ofSocial Democratic Students of Sweden . He also served as a councillor in the Uppsala Municipal Council.In
1994 he was elected to theRiksdag as aMember of Parliament . In1996 he became Minister for Taxation in the Ministry of Finance, and in1998 Minister for Education and Science.November 1 ,2004 he switched posts with former Minister for Industry and TradeLeif Pagrotsky .It has regularly been stated that former Prime Minister
Göran Persson has a lot of confidence in Thomas Östros, and Östros was often mentioned in speculations about possible successors to Persson.Since early
2008 , he is the economic spokesman, "de facto" running forFinance Minister in the upcoming election, succedingPär Nuder who got in troubles with party leader andprime minister alternateMona Sahlin . If the Social Democrats win the election in2010 , it is strongly believed Östros will make Finance Minister, which is considered the second most powerful office in Sweden.External links
* [http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2242 Information page on the Swedish Government web site]
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