Bildt, Carl

Bildt, Carl (b. 15 July 1949). Prime Minister of Sweden 1991–4 Born in Halmstad, he was born into a family of Danish aristocratic origin and of good political connections since the days of Gillis Bildt (Prime Minister 1888–9). He studied political science at Stockholm University. He became chairman (1973–4) of the student's union of the Moderate Party, whose political fortunes were greatly improved under the leadership (1971–81) of his father-in-law, Gösta Bohman. A member of the Riksdag (Parliament) since 1979, he served as Under-Secretary of State (1979–81). As party leader from 1986, he rebuilt his party and pledged it to a reform of the welfare state. As head of a four-party government coalition, he tried to reduce the influence of the state in economy and society, while continuing to press for the country's membership of the European Union. In June 1994, he signed Sweden's accession treaty to the EU. Owing to rising unemployment and other economic difficulties, he lost the 1994 elections, and in 1995 he became active as negotiator for the European Union in the Bosnian Civil War. Bildt co-chaired the Dayton peace talks, and in 1999 he was appointed the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to the Balkans.