Elisabet Lann, a prominent figure in Swedish politics, has been appointed as the new Minister of Health in Ulf Kristersson's government. Known for her strong communication skills and experience in both local and national politics, Lann aims to address critical healthcare issues. Her appointment follows the departure of Acko Ankarberg Johansson and marks a strategic move by the Christian Democrats to strengthen their position on healthcare.
Elisabet Lann Appointed as Sweden's New Minister of Health
Elisabet Lann Appointed as Sweden's New Minister of Health
Elisabet Lann (Christian Democrats) has been appointed as the new Minister of Health. She transitions from her role as a municipal councilor in Gothenburg. "It feels incredibly honorable but above all very important to have received this trust," she says. The press conference was abruptly ended when she fainted.
Christian Democrat Elisabet Lann, 44, is the new Minister of Health in Ulf Kristersson's government.
Elisabet Lann hails from Månsarp in Jönköping. She most recently served as an opposition municipal councilor in Gothenburg, where she has been active in local politics since 2019. She is a member of the Christian Democrats' executive committee and part of the party board. Lann has also been a regional director for Save the Children.
During the final years of the Alliance and Fredrik Reinfeldt's government, she was also deputy chief and state secretary in the Christian Democrats' coordination office. She was reportedly close to former party leader Göran Hägglund and comes from a circle of "soft" Christian Democrats but is said to have become more conservative in recent years.
Elisabet Lann New Minister of Health
Since 2016, Elisabet Lann has been the chair of the Christian Democratic International Center. Last summer, she criticized on DN Debatt the decision by Sida and Minister for International Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa (Moderates) to open support for the Sweden Democrats' aid foundation Hepatica, which she believes undermines trust in the parties' aid organizations.
In a candidate presentation for the 2024 EU elections, Elisabet Lann describes herself:
"I am a mother of three with experience in politics at the municipal, regional, and national levels. I have a background as an editorial writer and regional director within civil society and extensive experience in international work supporting democratic actors in dictatorships - such as Cuba, Belarus, and China. I hunt, run, and spend time with my family or out with the dog in my free time."
Investigated State Healthcare
She now takes over from Acko Ankarberg Johansson, who announced her resignation on Monday.
"I am very much looking forward to working in the government on one of the issues that means the most for people's trust in our common welfare," writes Elisabet Lann in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Lann was part of the parliamentary healthcare responsibility committee that investigated the issue of nationalizing healthcare. The conclusion was that a state management of healthcare was the wrong path to take, which the Christian Democrats criticized.
"The government has taken many important steps towards national coordination - and more are needed, even though the responsibility for healthcare is still divided among 21 different regions," writes Elisabet Lann about her new role as Minister of Health.
Interpreted as Anti-Abortion
As an editorial writer for the party newspaper Kristdemokraten, Elisabet Lann wrote an article in 2011 about society's view on childbirth, which some have interpreted as anti-abortion.
"Children in our society have come to be seen as an optional accessory. Something we acquire when, how, with or without whom we want. Dare not to problematize or mention the ethical difficulty in children being chosen away when they do not fit in the calendar, budget, three-room apartment, or simply because of their characteristics. Woe to those who dare to question whether it is really a human right to have children when it suits," she wrote then.
According to reports to Expressen and several other media outlets, Acko Ankarberg Johansson was removed as Minister of Health because the Christian Democrats want to "top the team" in the important healthcare issue ahead of the election, something that has been denied by both party leader Ebba Busch and Ankarberg Johansson herself.
Expressen's sources point to Elisabet Lann as a strong communicator who can more clearly take the fight for healthcare against the Social Democrats.
The government's press conference to present Elisabet Lann as the new minister was abruptly interrupted as Lann fainted after her speech.