Fredrik Reinfeldt

Biography

John Fredrik Reinfeldt was born on August 4, 1965, in Österhaninge, Stockholm County, Sweden. He studied at Stockholm University and Stockholm Business School, where his understanding of economics began to shape his political views. He married Filippa Reinfeldt, and together they became well-known figures in Swedish public life during his political career.

Reinfeldt joined the Moderate Youth League in 1983 as a teenager and steadily moved up the ranks, becoming chairman in 1992 until 1995. He was first elected to the Swedish Riksdag in 1991 for his home constituency and remained a Member of Parliament until 2014. On October 25, 2003, he was elected leader of the Moderate Party, taking over from Bo Lundgren. Under his leadership, the party rebranded as 'The New Moderates,' shifting its policies towards the political center to attract more voters.

After the 2006 general election, Reinfeldt was elected Prime Minister on October 6, 2006, becoming the third-youngest person to hold that office in Swedish history at 41. He led a center-right coalition government called the Alliance for Sweden, which consisted of four political parties with a slim parliamentary majority. His first term was marked by the global financial crisis of 2008 and the Great Recession. His government’s handling of the economy helped Sweden come out of the crisis with one of the strongest economies in the European Union, which played a big role in his coalition winning the 2010 election again. In 2009, he also served as the last rotating President of the European Council, where he played a significant role in European affairs during a critical time.

In his second term, Reinfeldt's government operated as a minority due to the rising influence of the Sweden Democrats. Despite this, he stayed in power and became the first center-right Prime Minister since the time of the Swedish-Norwegian Union to be re-elected. His governance focused on 'Arbetslinjen,' or the 'Working Line,' emphasizing employment, labor market reform, and reducing dependence on welfare. In 2010, the Moderate Party got its highest vote share since 1921 when universal suffrage was introduced in Sweden. Reinfeldt stepped down as both Prime Minister and party leader after the 2014 general election, when his coalition lost its majority.

After leaving office, Reinfeldt stayed active in public life. He wrote the book 'Open Your Hearts,' discussing immigration and Swedish identity. In 2016, he received H. M. The King's Medal and was honored with the Order of Stara Planina for his contributions to international relations. From 2023 to 2025, he served as chairman of the Swedish Football Association, staying involved in national civic activities beyond politics.