Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth

Lena Elisabeth Adelsohn Liljeroth (born 24 November 1955) is a Swedish politician who served as Minister for Culture and Sports from 2006 to 2014.[1] A member of the Moderate Party, she was an MP of the Swedish Riksdag from 2002 to 2014.

Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth
Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth in October 2010
Minister for Culture and Sports
In office
24 October 2006 (2006-10-24) – 3 October 2014 (2014-10-03)
Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt
Preceded byCecilia Stegö Chilò
Succeeded byAlice Bah Kuhnke
Member of the Swedish Riksdag
for Stockholm Municipality
In office
30 September 2002 (2002-09-30) – 29 September 2014 (2014-09-29)
Personal details
Born (1955-11-24) 24 November 1955 (age 68)
Stockholm, Sweden
Political partyModerate Party
SpouseUlf Adelsohn

Personal life

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Liljeroth was born in Spånga. She is married to former Moderate Party leader Ulf Adelsohn. She is partially deaf since birth.

Charity work

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She appeared as Miss July in a 2005 calendar raising money for gender studies.[2]

Political life

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Liljeroth is an ardent opponent of graffiti vandalism and advocates zero tolerance on the matter.[3]

Cutting a cake at Moderna Museet

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At a party for 2012 World Art Day, Liljeroth was photographed cutting a cake in the likeness of a stereotypical naked African tribal woman in the nude and with a creamy blood-red sponge filling.[4] The cake, part of the project Afromantics started in 2004 by performance artist Makode Linde, was made to bring attention to racism[5] and female genital mutilation.[6]

The photographs were posted on Facebook and raised criticism and outrage, in Sweden and abroad.[7] Dan Jonsson, a critic with Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, suggested Adelsohn Liljeroth had been trapped in a situation that whatever she had chosen to do, it would have been wrong. Despite this support, others urged her to resign.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Reinfeldt announces two new ministers Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, The Local, 24 October 2006 (in English).
  2. ^ Här viker nya ministern ut sig - Nyheter - Senaste nytt | Expressen - Nyheter Sport Ekonomi Nöje
  3. ^ Kulturminister vill ha hårda tag mot graffiti, Sydsvenskan, 24 October 2006 (in Swedish). Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Swedish minister in 'racist cake' controversy". 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. ^ Stina Loman. "Konstnären: Jag ville förmänskliga tårtan", Svenska Dagbladet, 17 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  6. ^ Minata Dao Hagberg and Sten Hagberg. "En osmaklig och rasistisk nidbild", Svenska Dagbladet, 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth Cake Controversy: Swedish Minister Of Culture Slammed For 'Racist' Cake". Huffington post. 17 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Swedish culture minister in 'racist cake' row". 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
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Government offices
Preceded by Minister for Culture and Sports
2006–2014
Succeeded by