Anna-Greta Leijon

Anna-Greta Leijon (born Anna Margareta Maria Lejon; 30 June 1939 – 11 April 2024) was a Swedish Social Democratic politician. Leijon began her political career in 1964 at the , eventually becoming its director in 1970. From 1973 to 1976, she served as a minister without portfolio and was a member of the Riksdag from 1974 to 1990, notably serving as vice chairman of the Committee on the Labour Market from 1979 to 1982.

Within the Social Democratic Party, she held various roles including membership in the Executive Committee from 1981 onwards. Leijon's ministerial positions included employment (1982–1987), gender equality (1986), and justice (1987–1988), although she did not hold a law degree. However, her tenure as justice minister ended abruptly due to the Ebbe Carlsson affair. Notably, she chaired the General Conference of the International Labour Organization in 1984. Beyond politics, Leijon served as director general of the National Institute of Occupational Health from 1992 and held several public roles, including chairmanship of Sveriges Television (SVT) and Moderna Museet.

Early life Leijon was born on 30 June 1939 in , Stockholm, Sweden.

Career

Political career Leijon was employed at the Swedish Labour Market Administration (Arbetsmarknadsstyrelsen) in 1964 and became agency director there in 1970. Leijon was minister without portfolio from 1973 to 1976 and member of the Riksdag (s) from 1974 to 1990 (vice chairman of the Committee on the Labour Market from 1979 to 1982). She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party Board from 1981, minister for employment from 1982 to 1987, minister for gender equality in 1986 and minister for justice from 1987 to 1988 Leijon was chairman of the Committee on Finance from 1988 to 1990. The plan, known as Operation Leo, was intercepted by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) and Kröcher was arrested on 31 March in Stockholm. He was deported from Sweden in 1977 and jailed in Germany. He was released in 1989 and did not rejoin the RAF. Leijon was chosen as the kidnapping victim because she had the responsibility for the terrorist legislation and was ultimately responsible for the expulsion of the RAF terrorists who carried out the embassy siege.

Other work Leijon became director general of the National Institute of Occupational Health (Arbetsmiljöinstitutet) in 1992. In 1995, she succeeded Hans Alfredson as head of Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm, an assignment that she held until 31 August 2005, when she was replaced by . She was chairman of the Swedish Council for Social Research (Socialvetenskapliga forskningsrådet) from 1990 to 1993 and of Moderna Museet from 1994 to 2000. She was the mother of Britta Lejon, the former Minister for Democratic Issues in Sweden. Anna-Greta Leijon, her former partner Anders Leion and their daughter Britta Lejon all spell their surnames differently.

Leijon died on 11 April 2024 at the age of 84.

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