Swedish Statesman. Born Nils Olof Thorbjorn Falldin, he served two separate tenures as the Prime Minister of Sweden (October 8, 1976 to October 18, 1978, October 12, 1979 to October 2, 1982). He grew up in a farming family and in 1956, as a young newlywed, took over a small farm. Problems with the local authorities over the farm, led him to join the Farmers' League, which in 1958 changed its name to the Centre Party. That same year he was elected to the Riksdag as a member of the Centre Party. He rose through the party leadership and in 1971, became party leader. After the 1976 elections, he became the first prime minister of a non-Socialist government since World War II. He served as prime minister for two years before his coalition fell apart over the issue of Swedish dependency on nuclear power (Falldin's Centre Party was anti-nuclear). After the 1979 election, he regained the prime minister post in a coalition with liberals and moderates. He served as prime minister until the 1982 election brought the Social Democrats back into power. During his second tenure, he famously ordered the Swedish military to “hold the border” after a Soviet submarine was accidentally grounded off the Swedish coast in 1981. He resigned as Centre party leader after a disastrous election defeat in 1985. He later served as chairman of both Foreningsbanken and Televerket. After he resigned from politics in 1985, he went back to his farm.
Swedish Statesman. Born Nils Olof Thorbjorn Falldin, he served two separate tenures as the Prime Minister of Sweden (October 8, 1976 to October 18, 1978, October 12, 1979 to October 2, 1982). He grew up in a farming family and in 1956, as a young newlywed, took over a small farm. Problems with the local authorities over the farm, led him to join the Farmers' League, which in 1958 changed its name to the Centre Party. That same year he was elected to the Riksdag as a member of the Centre Party. He rose through the party leadership and in 1971, became party leader. After the 1976 elections, he became the first prime minister of a non-Socialist government since World War II. He served as prime minister for two years before his coalition fell apart over the issue of Swedish dependency on nuclear power (Falldin's Centre Party was anti-nuclear). After the 1979 election, he regained the prime minister post in a coalition with liberals and moderates. He served as prime minister until the 1982 election brought the Social Democrats back into power. During his second tenure, he famously ordered the Swedish military to “hold the border” after a Soviet submarine was accidentally grounded off the Swedish coast in 1981. He resigned as Centre party leader after a disastrous election defeat in 1985. He later served as chairman of both Foreningsbanken and Televerket. After he resigned from politics in 1985, he went back to his farm.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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