Maria Malmer Stenergard

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Maria Malmer Stenergard
Malmer Stenergard in 2025
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 September 2024
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Prime MinisterUlf Kristersson
Preceded byTobias Billström
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
In office
18 October 2022 – 10 September 2024
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Prime MinisterUlf Kristersson
Preceded byAnders Ygeman
Succeeded byJohan Forssell
Member of the Riksdag for Skåne Northern and Eastern
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 September 2014
Personal details
Born (1981-03-23) 23 March 1981 (age 44)
Kristianstad, Sweden
Political partyModerate Party
Alma materLund University (BA, LLM)

Eva Maria Louise Malmer Stenergard (born 23 March 1981) is a Swedish politician and jurist.[1] Since September 2024, she is the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Kristersson cabinet, having previously served as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy from 2022 to 2024.[2][3] She has also been a Member of the Riksdag since 2014.[4]

Ministerial career

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Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy (2022–2024)

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On 18 October 2022, Malmer Stenergard was appointed Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy in the cabinet of Ulf Kristersson. This role was seen as critical since migration was one of the key areas the new government was set to focus on.[5]

In 2024, Malmer Stenergard announced that Sweden during that year had seen the lowest number of immigrants since 1997, and had for the first time in 50 years had more people migrating from Sweden than immigrating to Sweden. This was in line with the governments policy which she had implemented.[6]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (2024–present)

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On 10 September 2024, prime minister Ulf Kristersson reshuffled his cabinet. During this reshuffle Malmer Stenergard was made Minister for Foreign Affairs succeeding Tobias Billström who had recently resigned.[7] During a press conference later the same day she said she would pursue a foreign policy that prioritized Sweden.[8]

On 3 October 2024 during a debate in the Riksdag regarding Sweden's decision to abstain from voting on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, a bag containing tomatoes and onions was hurled towards Malmer Stenergard from the Riksdag's public gallery. Malmer Stenergard retreated from the chamber following the event. The bag's contents had been smuggled in through the security controls by three pro-Palestine activists, by means of hiding them in their clothes. The activists were quickly apprehended by security and removed from the perimeters of the Riksdag. Malmer Stenergard called the event an attack on basic democratic values, a sentiment echoed by Speaker Andreas Norlén.[9][10]

She and her Nordic counterparts signed a joint letter in late October condemning Israel's planned bill that would seek to ban the UNRWA from operating in the country and in effect the Palestinian areas. Furthermore, they urged the Knesset to reconsider passing the bill.[11]

Stenergaard called the March 2025 Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip "dangerous" and demanded an end to the violence.[12]

List of international trips made by Maria Malmer Stenergard

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See: List of international trips made by Maria Malmer Stenergard as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

Honours

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Foreign honours

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References

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  1. ^ CV Maria Malmer Stenergard Archived 19 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  2. ^ Ulf Kristersson names ministers in his three-party government. Radio Sweden. Sveriges Radio. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Sveriges Radio.
  3. ^ "Swedish PM announces new foreign, migration and EU ministers in reshuffle". The Local. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Sweden's New Government". Government of Sweden. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Här är den nya regeringens ministrar". SVT Nyheter. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Fler utvandrar än invandrar till Sverige för första gången på över 50 år". Regeringskansliet. 8 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) blir ny utrikesminister". SVT Nyheter. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  8. ^ Sweden appoints new foreign minister with focus on supporting Ukraine Retrieved 11 September 2024. Reuters.
  9. ^ "Ministern flydde tomatattack – tre släppta". Aftonbladeti. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Debatt i riksdagen avbruten – påse kastades mot utrikesministern". SVT Nyheter. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Nordic statement on the draft legal bills in the Knesset related to UNRWA". government.no. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  12. ^ "'Israel Defies Humanity' – World Reaction to Tel Aviv's Renewed Genocidal Assault on Gaza". Palestine Chronicle. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Så var kungens fest – se bilderna inifrån". www.svenskdam.se (in Swedish). 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.