Ingvar Carlsson

Ingvar Carlsson (born 1934), Swedish politician, former Prime Minister of Sweden and leader of the Swedish Social Democrat Party.

In 1965 after completing his studies in the United States he was elected member of the Swedish Parliament. In the same year he also became leader of the Social Democrat youth organization, the SSU. He had the following ministerial posts; Minister of Education 1969-1973, Minister of Housing 1973-1976, Deputy Prime Minister 1982-1986 and following the assasination of Olof Palme in 1986 Ingvar Carlsson became the new Prime Minister or Statsminister and party leader. In 1990 the Carlsson cabinet resigned after failing to gain majority for economic reforms, but was reinstated immediately with a slightly changed agenda.

The Social Democrats lost the elections in 1991, but Carlsson returned to power after the elections in 1994 and was was succeeded by Göran Persson both as Prime Minister and party leader in 1996. His career has been shaped by the heritage of Olof Palme, with whom he worked closelya but his policies are more seen as beeing a continuation of the legacy established by Tage Erlander[?].

A satirical tv show likened Ingvar Carlssons' appearance to the sole of a shoe which led to the (slightly affectionate) use of the nickname the sole ("Sulan").