Maria Leissner

Annika Maria Leissner (born 21 January 1956) is a Swedish politician and former party leader of the Swedish Liberal People's Party (1995–97).

Early life Leissner was born on 21 January 1956 in Gothenburg, Sweden, the son of Pehr Leissner, a doctor, and his wife Ulla (née Hallberg), a sociologist. She completed studies in Gothenburg and at Uppsala University (international economics) from 1975 to 1980.

In January 2007 she was appointed Ambassador-at-large for Democracy. In April 2012 she was appointed Secretary-General of Community of Democracies.

On 5 October 2017, she took office as Stockholm-based ambassador of Sweden to Benin. Between 2017 and 2021, Leissner served as Stockholm-based ambassador not only to Benin, but also to The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

Personal life From 1982 to 1996, Leissner was in a domestic partnership with Hans Holmgren (1982–1996), the son of civil engineer Karl Olof Holmgren and Ingrid (née Stener).