Carin Jämtin

Carin Jämtin
Carin Jämtin in January 2012
Personal details
Born	3 August 1964 (1964-08-03) Stockholm, Sweden
Political party	Swedish Social Democratic Party

Carin Jämtin (born 3 August 1964 in Stockholm) is a Swedish Social Democratic politician and the party-Secretary of the Social Democratic Party since 26 March 2011. She was Minister for International Development Cooperation in the Swedish government between 2003 and 2006.

Early career

She has briefly studied at Stockholm University, without obtaining any degree. She began her political career in the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League, and was a board member of the organization from 1990 to 1992, thereafter serving as treasurer and acting secretary. Prior to her appointment in 2003, she worked as the Deputy Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Center.

Riksdag

At the general election in September 2006, she was elected to the Riksdag, i.e. member of parliament. Only a month later, in October 2006, she was elected Leader of the Opposition in the City Council of Stockholm. She decided to keep her seat in parliament for at least two months, citing her desire to fight for proposals made by Social-Democrats from Stockholm. While Carin Jämtin was one of the favourites to succeed Göran Persson as leader of the Social Democrats at the party's next congress in March 2007, her retention of the seat in parliament fuelled speculation that she might run for party leadership. It is generally considered that the next Social Democratic leader should be a member of parliament.

On November 23, 2006, Sweden's biggest newspaper Aftonbladet (independently social-democratic), endorsed her as party leader, but she declined running.

Views on Israel-Palestine conflict

During a visit to Israel and the West Bank in 2005 Jämtin called the wall between the two "Crazy and sick" and that she felt that a two state solution is impossible because of Israels actions, and that if Israel wants to build a wall it should do so in its own territory. The comments received a lot of commentary from media in Sweden. In September 2011, Jämtin along with Urban Ahlin voiced their support for a Swedish recognition of a Palestinian state.

References

• "Jämtin ny s-ledare i Stockholm", Sveriges Radio Ekot, October 10, 2006, retrieved November 23, 2006.
• "Välj Jämtin", Aftonbladet, November 23, 2006, retrieved November 23, 2006.

Party political offices
Preceded by Ibrahim Baylan	Party Secretary of the Social Democratic Party 2011—	Succeeded by Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Jan O. Karlsson	Minister for International Development Cooperation 2003—2006	Succeeded by Gunilla Carlsson