Carin Jämtin Explained

Carin Jämtin
Office:Governor of Västernorrland County
Primeminister:Ulf Kristersson
Term Start:1 September 2023
Predecessor:Berit Högman
Office2:Secretary-General of the Swedish Social Democratic Party
Leader2:Håkan Juholt
Stefan Löfven
Term Start2:26 March 2011
Term End2:27 August 2016
Predecessor2:Ibrahim Baylan
Successor2:Lena Rådström Baastad
Office3:Minister for International Development Cooperation
Monarch3:Carl XVI Gustaf
Primeminister3:Göran Persson
Term Start3:10 October 2003
Term End3:6 October 2006
Predecessor3:Jan O. Karlsson
Successor3:Gunilla Carlsson
Office4:Member of Parliament
Term Start4:29 September 2014
Term End4:28 May 2017
Constituency4:Stockholm Municipality
Term Start5:7 October 2006
Term End5:21 December 2006
Constituency5:Stockholm Municipality
Birth Date:3 August 1964
Birth Place:Stockholm, Sweden
Party:Swedish Social Democratic Party

Carin Jämtin (born 3 August 1964 in Stockholm) is a Swedish civil servant and former politician who has served as Governor of Västernorrland County since 1 September 2023.[1]

A member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) briefly in 2006 and from 2014 to 2017, representing Stockholm Municipality both times. She served as Minister for International Development Cooperation from 2003 to 2006 under Prime Minister Göran Persson and was Secretary-General of the Swedish Social Democratic Party under party leaders Håkan Juholt and Stefan Löfven from 2011 to 2016. She was Director-General of the Swedish International Development Agency from 2017 to 2023.

Early life and education

Jämtin briefly studied at Stockholm University, without obtaining any degree.

Political career

Jämtin began her political career in the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League, and was a board member of the organization from 1990 to 1992, thereafter serving as treasurer and acting secretary. Prior to her appointment in 2003, she worked as the Deputy Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Center.

Member of the Swedish Parliament

At the general election in September 2006, Jämtin was elected to the Riksdag, i.e. member of parliament. Only a month later, in October 2006, she was elected Leader of the Opposition in the City Council of Stockholm.[2] She decided to keep her seat in parliament for at least two months, citing her desire to fight for proposals made by Social-Democrats from Stockholm. While Jämtin was one of the favourites to succeed Göran Persson as leader of the Social Democrats at the party's congress in March 2007, her retention of the seat in parliament fuelled speculation that she might run for party leadership. It was generally considered that the next Social Democratic leader should be a member of parliament.On 23 November 2006, Sweden's biggest newspaper Aftonbladet (independently social-democratic), endorsed Jämtin as party leader,[3] but she declined running.

On 16 August 2016, Jämtin announced her intention to resign as party secretary in order to fulfill her position as Member of the Riksdag.[4]

Other activities

Views on Israel-Palestine conflict

During a visit to Israel and the West Bank in 2005 Jämtin called the wall between the two "Crazy and sick" and that she felt that a two state solution is impossible because of Israels actions, and that if Israel wants to build a wall it should do so in its own territory.[6] The comments received a lot of commentary from media in Sweden.[6] In September 2011, Jämtin along with Urban Ahlin voiced their support for a Swedish recognition of a Palestinian state.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carin Jämtin ny landshövding i Västernorrlands län . Regeringen och Regeringskansliet . 2023-09-01 . sv . 2023-09-17.
  2. "Jämtin ny s-ledare i Stockholm", Sveriges Radio Eko, 10 October 2006.
  3. "Välj Jämtin", Aftonbladet, 23 November 2006.
  4. http://www.socialdemokraterna.se/Pressrum/nyheter/Carin-Jamtin-lamnar-over-stafettpinnen/ Carin Jämtin lämnar över stafettpinnen (in Swedish)
  5. http://www.ecfr.eu/council/members Members
  6. News: Tweet Stefan Hjertén, TT . Israels mur upprör Jämtin | Utrikes | SvD . Svenska Dagbladet . sv . Svd.se . 11 June 2012 . 2012-08-12.
  7. News: Tweet . Ett erkännande skulle sätta press på Israel | SvD . sv . Svenska Dagbladet . 2 September 2011 . 2012-08-12.