Johan Pehrson

Carl Johan Georg Pehrson (born 8 May 1968) is a Swedish politician who served as leader of the Liberals Party from 2022 to 2025, as Minister for Employment and Integration from 2022 to 2024 and as Minister for Education from 2024 to 2025.

Pehrson was Member of Parliament from 1998 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2025, representing Örebro County both times.

Biography Early life and career Pehrson was born in Längbro in Örebro County. He has a Master of Laws degree from Uppsala University. He became a member of the Liberal People's Party in 1985 with a previous background from the Liberal Youth of Sweden. Before being elected to the parliament in 1998, Pehrson worked as a court clerk at the Örebro district court. From 2001 to 2002 Pehrson was Party Secretary of the Liberal People's Party.

Leader of the Liberals (2022–2025) On 8 April 2022, Nyamko Sabuni resigned as party leader. On the same day, the Liberals announced that Pehrson, as the first deputy chairman, would take over as acting party leader. He led the Liberals over the 2022 Swedish general election. At an extraordinary party meeting in December, Pehrson was elected as party leader on a permanent basis.

Following the election the Liberals joined a coalition government with the Moderates and Christian Democrats, with Pehrson becoming Minister for Employment and Integration in the Kristersson Cabinet.

On 10 September 2024, Kristersson reshuffled his cabinet during his Declaration of Government speech held at the Opening of the Riksdag. During this reshuffle Pehrson was appointed Minister for Education and was replaced as Minister for Employment and Integration by Education Minister Mats Persson. As Minister of Education, Pehrson has stated that he is paying attention to a 2024 law passed by Australia that restricts minors' social media usage.

On 28 April 2025, Pehrson announced his resignation as leader of the Liberals. His decision was announced weeks following the resignations of several top-level Liberal politicians on 31 March. Pehrson will remain as minister and party leader until the next party conference on 24 June.

Personal life

Pehrson lives in Örebro with his wife and four children.