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Per Unckel
Per Unckel
Per Unckel
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Per Carl Gustav Unckel (24 February 1948 – 20 September 2011)[3] was a Swedish Moderate Party politician who served as Minister for Education from 1991 to 1994 and as Governor of Stockholm County from 2007 until his death in 2011.

Key Information

He was born in Östergötland and was at one time chairman of the Moderate Youth League district there. He studied law in Uppsala 1968–71. In 1971, he was elected national chairman of the Moderate Youth League and served until 1976, when he was elected to the Riksdag for Östergötland.

In 1986, he became secretary general of the Moderate Party. He stayed in the post until 1991, when the Moderate Party won the election and Carl Bildt became Prime Minister of Sweden. Unckel was then appointed Minister of Education. In that position, he spearheaded the educational reforms that revolutionised the Swedish education system. Among other things, students were allowed to choose among the local schools.

After the loss in the election in 1994, Unckel became the party spokesman on labour policy. In 1998 he became chairman of the Committee on the Constitution and one year later he was appointed leader of the Moderate Party parliamentary group.

The election in 2002 was disastrous for the Moderate Party and several senior figures had to resign from the board of the party. Per Unckel was one of them. He was seen as a part of the old regime – the so-called "Bunker" around Carl Bildt, together with the likes of Anders Björk and Gunnar Hökmark. His old Moderate Youth League district, however, paid their respects by electing him honorary chairman. In 2003, he was appointed secretary-general of the Nordic Council of Ministers and retired from Swedish politics.[4] He served until December 2006. He later served as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the European Humanities University.

Unckel died on 20 September 2011 from cancer, aged 63.

References

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Per Unckel

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Per Carl Gustav Unckel (24 February 1948 – 20 September 2011) was a Swedish Moderate Party politician and civil servant who held key roles in education policy, Nordic cooperation, and regional governance.
As Minister for Education and Science from 1991 to 1994 under Prime Minister Carl Bildt, Unckel advanced reforms aimed at enhancing higher education and research funding amid Sweden's economic challenges. He later served as Secretary-General of the from 2003 to 2006, emphasizing cross-border mobility and cooperation. Appointed Governor of Stockholm County in 2007, he managed regional administration until his death from cancer. Unckel's career also included contributions to public administration, such as strengthening institutional frameworks in education and audit oversight during his time in parliament.

Moderate Party roles

Secretary-General (1986–1991)

Born on 24 February 1948, Per Unckel served as Secretary-General (partisekreterare) of the Moderate Party from 1986 to 1991. In this organizational leadership position within Moderata samlingspartiet, he managed internal party administration, strategic planning, and coordination ahead of national elections. His tenure ended with the party's electoral success in 1991, after which he moved into government service under Prime Minister Carl Bildt.

Advisor in the "Bunker"

Unckel served as a key informal advisor in the "Bunker," the inner circle of senior strategists surrounding Moderate Party leader Carl Bildt, where he helped shape the party's ideological orientation toward liberal economic reforms and a break from traditional conservatism. This group, often comprising experienced party figures like Unckel, provided strategic counsel on positioning the Moderates as a viable alternative to social democratic governance. His involvement in the Bunker complemented his formal role as party secretary, contributing to the tactical preparations that facilitated the Moderate-led coalition's success in the 1991 elections and subsequent government formation under Bildt.

Government and parliamentary positions

Minister for Education and Science (1991–1994)

Per Unckel was appointed Minister for Education and Science on 3 October 1991 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Carl Bildt, serving until 7 October 1994. As minister, Unckel spearheaded the friskolereform (independent school reform) enacted in 1992–1993, which established a national voucher system to promote school choice and competition. This reform enabled municipalities to approve independent schools, with public funding allocated via vouchers equivalent to per-pupil expenditures in municipal schools, allowing parents—regardless of income—to select either public or approved private providers for compulsory education. Unckel, alongside School Minister Beatrice Ask, drove the policy to break the public education monopoly, emphasizing vitality and innovation through market mechanisms. The voucher framework modernized Sweden's education system by decentralizing control, fostering diverse educational options, and introducing performance incentives via enrollment-based funding, marking a shift from centralized provision to consumer-driven allocation. These changes laid the groundwork for expanded independent schooling, with Unckel advocating that choice would enhance quality without socioeconomic barriers.

Chair of the Committee on the Constitution (1998–2002)

From 1998 to 2002, Per Unckel chaired the (), a parliamentary body responsible for reviewing constitutional matters, scrutinizing government ministers' conduct, and preparing proposals for amendments to Sweden's fundamental laws. Under his leadership, the committee played a pivotal role in advancing reforms to enhance the independence of public sector auditing, culminating in proposals for constitutional changes to the Instrument of Government (Regeringsformen). These efforts addressed longstanding concerns over government influence on fiscal oversight, leading to the establishment of as an autonomous agency under the Riksdag on July 1, 2003, tasked with independently auditing state activities and expenditures. The process involved the committee's 2002 report (Betänkande 2002/03:KU9), which recommended structural separations to insulate auditors from executive control, including provisions for multiple chief auditors and dedicated remuneration laws; Riksdagen approved these as dormant constitutional decisions, finalized in 2002, marking a shift toward greater parliamentary accountability in public administration. This reform modernized Sweden's governance framework by prioritizing objective financial scrutiny, reducing potential political biases in audits, and aligning with broader European standards for institutional independence.

Administrative leadership

Secretary-General of the Nordic Council (2003–2006)

From 2003 to 2006, Per Unckel served as Secretary-General of the , the intergovernmental forum coordinating cooperation among Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, with its headquarters in Copenhagen. In this role, he led the secretariat responsible for implementing ministerial decisions and fostering collaboration across sectors such as welfare, environment, and culture. Unckel's tenure emphasized strengthening influence in European policy discussions, including on research and innovation, where he contributed to visions for regional leadership in these areas. He also addressed industry regulations, such as advocating Nordic perspectives on the EU's REACH chemical framework to balance benefits and concerns for producers.

Governor of Stockholm County (2007–2011)

Per Unckel was appointed Governor (Landshövding) of Stockholm County in 2007 by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's Alliance government, succeeding Mats Hellström, and served in the role until his death. As head of the County Administrative Board, he oversaw regional governance, including coordination on development, environmental protection, and public administration in the county. During his tenure, Unckel contributed to initiatives supporting youth development, such as presenting the inaugural gold medal for significant fostering efforts awarded by the Royal Patriotic Society to individuals aiding young people's personal growth and responsibility. He was recognized for making important contributions to Sweden through his governance work.

Later appointments and death

National coordinator against sports violence

In March 2011, Per Unckel was appointed by the Swedish government as national coordinator to counter violence and other criminality associated with sports events, particularly focusing on hooliganism at large matches such as football games. The role, concurrent with his position as Governor of Stockholm County, aimed to enhance safety and security through ongoing proposals over a two-year period, drawing on experiences from Stockholm's local models for managing supporter behavior. Unckel's mandate involved analyzing root causes of sports-related violence, including fan clashes and disruptions, and recommending collaborative strategies among authorities, clubs, and police to foster a positive supporter culture. He was tasked with delivering periodic reports, with initial suggestions expected by March of the following year, emphasizing preventive measures like improved event planning and inter-agency coordination to reduce incidents at arenas. The appointment garnered public attention amid rising concerns over spectator violence in Swedish sports, positioning Unckel as a troubleshooter to address systemic issues like alcohol-fueled aggression and organized hooligan groups. Although his tenure was cut short by his death later that year, the initiative laid groundwork for subsequent national efforts to promote safer sports environments through policy recommendations.

Death and honors

Unckel succumbed to cancer on 20 September 2011, at the age of 63, after battling the disease since his diagnosis in early 2009. The day before his death, on 19 September, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), honoring his extensive public service and leadership in education and administration. His passing elicited widespread tributes from political figures and colleagues, who praised his unwavering commitment to duty, noting he remained active in official roles until the end despite his prolonged illness.

References

  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105723778/per-carl_gustav-unckel
  2. https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.260.5115.1751
  3. https://www.gordonsander.com/sweden-after-the-fall-wilson-quarterly-296
  4. https://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/nordic-cooperation-a-question-of-survival/
  5. https://en.ehuniversity.lt/faq/per-unckel/
  6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20020317.2022.2155348
  7. https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-och-partier/ledamot/per-unckel_d7c31ec8-83e4-11d4-ae60-0050040c9b55/
  8. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/per-unckel-ar-dod
  9. https://www.barometern.se/ledare/bland-fornyare-bunkerman-och-kommunbevarare/
  10. https://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/nyheter/moderaterna-1980-talets-parti/
  11. https://www.helagotland.se/ledare/politik/artikel/en-demokrat-i-sjal-och-hjarta/jodek48r
  12. https://reason.com/1992/12/01/swedish-surprise/
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/11/style/IHT-sweden-weighs-overhaulto-meet-ec-competition.html
  14. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1708327/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  15. https://www.fokus.se/minnesord/per-unckel/
  16. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/choosing-to-learn
  17. https://www.st.nu/2011-09-22/valfriheten-ar-unckels-arv
  18. https://www.riksdagen.se/en/members-and-parties/member/per-unckel_d7c31ec8-83e4-11d4-ae60-0050040c9b55/
  19. https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/webb-tv/video/debatt-om-forslag/riksrevisionen_gq01ku12/
  20. https://www.ru.nl/sites/default/files/2023-07/IO%20BIO%20Persons%20and%20Entries%20March%202017.pdf
  21. https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/download/political-handbook-of-the-world-2005-2006/chpt/nordic-council.pdf
  22. https://www.stjornarradid.is/gogn/raeda/2004/06/10/The-Nordic-Region-as-a-frontrunner-in-Reserach-and-Innovation/
  23. https://chemsec.org/app/uploads/2023/04/REACH-a-leap-forward-for-industry.-Nordic-concerns-and-benefits-2004.pdf
  24. http://www.salss.com/2010/docs/SALSS2010_Speaker_Bios.pdf
  25. https://via.tt.se/pressmeddelande/1283772/for-forsta-gangen-utdelas-guldmedalj-for-betydande-fostrargarning?publisherId=1274213
  26. https://www.svd.se/m-hyllar-per-unckel
  27. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/KvPwy4/per-unckel-dod
  28. https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/4418173
  29. https://www.svd.se/a/92a723b1-6ffe-3bb1-8d30-f1900a98f675/ny-samordnare-ska-stoppa-huliganerna
  30. https://accentmagasin.se/politik/per-unckel-ska-stoppa-idrottsvaldet/
  31. https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/5798bab7872244388c405186499a90ce/slutrapport-fran-uppdraget-med-nationell-samordning-for-att-framja-en-positiv-supporterkultur-och-motverka-idrottsrelaterad-brottslighet-2015.pdf
  32. https://www.tv4.se/artikel/4fbff73d04bf72519400a02c/sa-vill-per-unckel-stoppa-laktarvaldet
  33. https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/4425352
  34. https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/per-unckel-dod/
  35. https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/4706906
  36. https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/4706814
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