Tobias Billström

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Tobias Billström
M
Billström in 2024
Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office
18 October 2022 – 10 September 2024
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Prime MinisterUlf Kristersson
Preceded byAnn Linde
Succeeded byMaria Malmer Stenergard
Leader of the Moderate Party in the Riksdag
In office
3 October 2017 – October 2022
DeputyHans Wallmark
LeaderUlf Kristersson
Preceded byJessica Polfjärd
Succeeded byMattias Karlsson
First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag
In office
29 September 2014 – 11 October 2017
MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Preceded bySusanne Eberstein
Succeeded byEwa Thalén Finné
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
In office
6 October 2006 – 29 September 2014
Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded byBarbro Holmberg
Succeeded byMorgan Johansson
Minister for Employment
In office
7 July 2010 – 5 October 2010
Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded bySven Otto Littorin
Succeeded byHillevi Engström
Member of the Riksdag
In office
30 September 2002 – 10 September 2024
ConstituencyMalmö Municipality (2002–2022)
Stockholm County (2022–2024)
Personal details
BornTobias Lennart Billström
(1973-12-27) 27 December 1973 (age 51)
Malmö, Sweden
Political partyModerate
Spouse
Sofia Åkerman
​
(m. 2009)​
Children1
Alma mater

Tobias Lennart Billström (born 27 December 1973) is a Swedish former politician of the Moderate Party. He served as Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy from 2006 to 2014, briefly as Minister for Employment in 2010 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2024.

He was Member of the Riksdag from the 2002 general election to 2024, representing both Malmö Municipality (2002–2022) and Stockholm County (2022–2024). In the Riksdag, he served as First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag from 2014 to 2017.

Billström announced his retirement from politics as a whole on 4 September 2024 and formally stood down on 10 September 2024.[1]

Education

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Billström has a Master of Philosophy in Historical Studies from the University of Cambridge and a fil. mag. in history from the University of Lund. While at Cambridge, he was a member of Selwyn College. His essays in history concerned subject areas of British colonial history, especially officers stationed in India and Jamaica. Billström became politically active through the Moderate Youth League. During his studies, he was active in the Confederation of Swedish Conservative and Liberal Students as chairman of Malmö Association FMS Gryphus, and sat on the board of the student union Lunds humanistkår. Billström began his studies in Lund in the Philosophy Department, where he read 20 points scientific basics for Victoria Höög.

Member of the Riksdag

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Billström became a Member of the Riksdag at the 2002 Swedish general election; he subsequently became a deputy in the Education Committee, Employment Committee and in the Cultural Committee. In 2003, he became a member of the Education Committee where he received a special responsibility for issues related to higher education and research. In April 2005, Billström became a member of the Social Security Committee and Moderate Party spokesperson on issues related to migration and integration. During the period from 2003 to 2007, Billström was Chairman of the Moderate Party in Malmö. Billström became a member of the board of the Swedish Migration Board in November 2005, a position he left when he was appointed Minister in 2006.

Billström participated as a Member of the Riksdag in the discussion of migration policy. He opposed the temporary asylum law that was implemented by the social democratic Persson cabinet, arguing that the law was not fair and that it was based on collective judgment.

Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy

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Billström became Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy on 6 October 2006.[2] Billström was stationed in the Ministry of Justice, unlike his immediate predecessors, who had been stationed in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Labour immigration

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Once it took office in October 2006, the Reinfeldt Cabinet set a new aim for Swedish migration policy, which was to increase the opportunities for labour immigration. Billström emphasised the importance of creating a balance in the policy area where asylum issues often dominate.[3] He also pointed out that labour immigration today is a way to help developing countries beyond the traditional aid.[4]

Re-establishment support

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The government implemented, on 1 August 2007, a re-establishment support to facilitate the repatriation of those who have had their asylum applications rejected.[5]

Middle East

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Billström stated that countries in Europe and the world should help refugees from Iraq who fled during the Iraq War. He emphasised the need for a very strong common asylum and migration policy, and that this could give more Iraqis in need of protection to access this.

The work was given a start with the article that Billström wrote with Cecilia Malmström in the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.[6] The message has since been represented to the Council of the European Union and at several international conferences where Billström represented Sweden, including in Geneva[7] and in Sharm el-Sheikh.[8]

From 30 March until 4 April 2007, Billström, as the first European Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, made a trip to Syria and Jordan to create a picture of the situation of the Iraqi refugees residing there. At the time he was interviewed in Damascus by Sveriges Radio.[9]

In classified documents revealed by Wikileaks, Billström, together with Carl Bildt during the two men's visit to the American Ambassador Ryan Crocker in Baghdad in 2007, reported the Iraqi refugee situation in Sweden, specifically mentioning honour killings and the Swedish opinion of restricting immigration.[10]

Controversial statements

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In an interview about illegal immigrants hidden in Sweden on 18 March 2013, Billström said that "Sometimes we have the impression that the person who is hidden lives with a nice blonde Swedish lady in her fifties or sixties who wants to help. But that's not true. The vast majority of hidden illegal immigrants live with their compatriots who are not blond and blue-eyed."[11]

The statement was severely criticised by both opposition parties as well as the other governing parties in the Alliance coalition government. The leader of the Moderate Youth League, youth league of the Moderate Party, Erik Bengtzboe also criticised the statement, and called for Billström to apologise and to think about what he had said.[12] In the early afternoon on the same day, Billström officially apologised for his statement and said that his words came out in the wrong way, and that what he said was not what he really meant. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, welcomed Billström's apology.[13]

Some even called for Billström's resignation from the position of Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy.[14] The right-wing Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson welcomed Billström's statement and said "that he was on the right track".[14]

In late 2022, the Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billström called the 2014 recognition of Palestine "premature and unfortunate".[15]

In response to the attacks on Gaza by Israel following the October 7 attacks, 2023, Billström said that Israel's response had been proportionate.[16] This received heavy criticism,[17] from ActionAid and Amnesty.[18] An official complaint was filed by the Swedish Left Party.[19]

First Deputy Speaker

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Billström was elected First Deputy Speaker on 29 September 2014. He resigned from the position in October 2017, to become Moderate Party leader in the Riksdag.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (2022–2024)

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Billström with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in Washington, D.C., 8 December 2022

On 18 October 2022, he was announced as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kristersson Cabinet.[20] On his first day Billström stated that he would not use the term "feminist foreign policy" as his predecessor.[21]

Billström served as Foreign Minister during Swedens historic entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a priority during his tenure was to secure membership ratification from Turkey and Hungary, who had both previously refused to approve Swedens membership after its application in 2022. In early 2024 both nations finally granted their approval. Billström said Sweden had much to give to the alliance.[22]

On 31 October 2023, Billström expressed support for Israel during the Gaza war, saying that Israel's response was "proportionate, in relation to its right to defend itself."[23]

On 4 September 2024, Billström announced his intent to resign as Minister for Foreign Affairs and as a member of the Riksdag on 10 September in connection with the Opening of the Riksdag. He also stated that he intended to retire from politics entirely.[24][25]

List of international trips made by Tobias Billström

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Main article: List of international trips made by Tobias Billström as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

Other activities

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Personal life

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He is the first openly bisexual person to serve as minister in a Swedish cabinet.[28] He is married to Sofia Åkerman with whom he has one daughter.

TV license controversy

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Main article: Minister affair at the announcement of the Reinfeldt cabinet

On 11 October 2006, less than a week after he took office, it was revealed that Billström deliberately had neglected to pay his television licence for ten years, despite owning a television. Billström stated that his neglect was based on his political standpoint against public service, but that he had come to appreciate public service and that he believed that citizens and especially legislators should follow the law. Billström also expressed his ambition to repay his debt with interest.[29] However, on 12 October 2006, Radiotjänst i Kiruna AB, a private agency tasked with collecting the license fees, filed criminal charges against Billström together with two other ministers in the Reinfeldt Cabinet: Cecilia Stegö Chilò and Maria Borelius, with the latter two resigning on 14 and 16 October 2006. Billström stated that he intended to remain in office and had no intention of resigning.[30]

Honours

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National
Foreign
Academic


References

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  1. ^ Egelandsdal, Pontus (4 September 2024). "Sveriges utenriksminister Tobias Billström går av" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Nettavisen. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Malmöbon Tobias Billström vill öppna för arbetskraftsinvandring". Sydsvenskan. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  3. ^ "We need labour immigration". Göteborgs-Posten. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Guest workers best assistance". Realtid. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. ^ sr.se: Asylum seekers get money to move home. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Svenska Dagbladet 12 February 2007: EU must take responsibility for Iraq – SvD". Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  7. ^ "regeringen.se: Speech at UNHCR's international conference on Iraq". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  8. ^ "regeringen.se: Speech at the ministerial meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  9. ^ "sr.se: Billström met Damascus refugees". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  10. ^ Åkerman, Mikaela (21 January 2011). "Ministrar ville stoppa våg av irakier". Svenska Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Billström: "De är inte blonda och blåögda"". Aftonbladet. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Moderate Youth League calls for apologize after Billström statement". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Reinfeldt: Bra att han har bett om ursäkt". Expressen. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Billström sågas av egna – men hyllas av SD". Aftonbladet. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  15. ^ Stavrou, David (22 November 2022). "Sweden's new FM says 2014 Palestine recognition was 'premature and unfortunate'". Haaretz.
  16. ^ "Billström står fast vid uttalandet: Israel har rätt att försvara sig". Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Hur är 5 791 döda proportionerligt, Tobias Billström?". Aftonbladet.
  18. ^ "Amnesty om Billströms hyckleri: Skulle fördöma andra som agerar som Israel". ETC.
  19. ^ "Vänsterpartiet KU-anmäler Billström för Israeluttalande". Altinget.
  20. ^ "Sweden's new PM Kristersson appoints cabinet". Reuters. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Sweden ditches 'feminist foreign policy'". BBC News. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Tobias Billström: Detta blir Sveriges bidrag till Nato". SVT Nyheter. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Sweden's shift in position on the Israel-Palestine conflict is symptomatic of Europe's division". Le Monde. 21 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Sweden's foreign minister announces shock departure from politics". Associated Press. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Tobias Billström avgår som utrikesminister". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  26. ^ Transatlantic Council on Migration Archived 25 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
  27. ^ Executive Board Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.
  28. ^ "The Swedish presidency of the EU". European Voice. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  29. ^ "Fler ministrar betalar inte licens". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
  30. ^ Bergbom, Kalle; Hall, Thomas (17 October 2006). "Jag tänker inte avgå". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  31. ^ "Bäst klädda gästerna på kungens jubileumsmiddag". damernasvarld.expressen.se (in Swedish). 15 September 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Foreign Minister awards Crosses of Merit of the Foreign Ministry for contributions to Estonia's freedom and statehood". vm.ee. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Tjusig galamiddag för Frankrikes president". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 30 January 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  34. ^ {{Webbref|titel=https://tsikhanouskaya.org/en/sweden-appointed-envoy-for-relations-with-democratic-
  35. ^ "president.ee". president.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Selwyn College Calendar 2023-2024" (PDF).
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Government offices
Preceded by Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
2006–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Employment
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Foreign Affairs
2022–2024 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Group Leader of the Moderate Party
in the Swedish Riksdag
2017–2022 		Succeeded by