Sweden's Minister Of Defence Mikael Odenberg Resigns

[Gnist]

Swedish defence Minister resigns over cuts

Published: 5th September 2007 14:10 CET
Online: The Local - Swedish defence Minister resigns over cuts

Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg has resigned in protest at government defence cuts. Savings of 4-5 billion kronor announced by Finance Minister Anders Borg were made "without basis or foundation".

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he repeatedly stated his opposition to the fact that the government had announced cuts in defence spending without first analyzing Sweden's military requirements.

"[The Swedish's military's] finances have been disconnected from its purpose," he told a resignation press conference.

"You can't just take away lots of defence procurement spending without it having operative effects," he said.

The cuts, he said, would damage Sweden's capacity to take part in international operations and would make it impossible for Sweden "to belong to the EU's core in defence matters."

He indicated that his decision to resign was a matter of conscience:

"I want to be able to face myself in the mirror and look our military personnel in the eye."

Odenberg said he did not have any objections to other aspects of government policy and added that he was resigning "entirely without bitterness."

Odenberg said he had also written to the speaker of Sweden's parliament, Per Westerberg, and asked to resign his seat. He did not reveal plans for the future, although said that he "plans to lose the 30 kilos I have gained since being elected to parliament."

Odenberg's resignation will be a shock to Sweden's political establishment, but the rift between him and Finance Minister Anders Borg has been apparent since early summer. Borg detailed plans in early July for an annual four billion kronor cut in the Swedish defence budget.

The finance minister said that defence minister Mikael Odenberg was on board - though Odenberg said at the time that was a "misunderstanding".

Borg argued that by 2010 the military should cut its spending by four billion kronor, or ten percent of the total budget. The cuts would primarily come from new equipment purchases.

The head of Sweden's armed forces, Supreme Commander Håkan Syrén has announced that he will hold a press conference later on Wednesday.

Commenting immediately after Anders Borg's statement in July, Syrén warned against hasty decisions being taken.

"In the end it is our politicians' role to decide the job of the military and future defence budgets, but I am seeking an unconditional discussion which starts with the operations which today's and tomorrow's Swedish military has been assigned. Most of all we should avoid drawing conclusions too hastily and too early. Not least when it comes to the finances," wrote Syrén.

He concluded his newsletter with an appeal to Odenberg.

"I understand that my view in that respect is completely in line with the defence minister's position," wrote the Supreme Commander.

Mikael Odenberg, born in 1953, has been a long-serving member of the Moderate Party. He was named Defence Minister after the coalition Alliance's election victory last September.

He began his political career as a county councillor in Stockholm in 1976 and has been a member of the Swedish parliament since 1991.

Odenberg lives in Stockholm and is married with four children.

The new defence minister has not yet been announced, although some newspapers are speculating that Trade Minister Sten Tolgfors will succeed Odenberg.

Odenberg is the third minister to resign from Fredrik Reinfeldt's cabinet. Maria Borelius resigned as trade minister after only eight days in the job. She was forced to quit after questions were raised over her tax affairs. Culture Minister Cecilia Stegö Chilò resigned two days later after admitting she had not paid her television licence fee for sixteen years.

[Gnist]

New defence minister refused to bear arms

Published: 5th September 2007 18:08 CET
Online: The Local - New defence minister refused to bear arms

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has promoted Trade Minister Sten Tolgfors to the post of defence minister, following the resignation of Mikael Odenberg, who quit in protest at cuts in the defence budget. Tolgfors's appointment has raised eyebrows after it emerged that he refused on principle to carry out military service.

Accepting the job of defence minister, Tolgfors said he accepted the prime minister's vision for the future of Sweden's military.

Tolgfors refused to bear arms when called up for military service in the 1980s, and was forced instead to perform his national service in the community sector. He later worked for the Red Cross. There, he changed his view of the use of military force after a Kurdish man showed him photographs of Saddam Hussein's massacre in Halabja.

Announcing Tolgfors's appointment on Wednesday afternoon, Reinfeldt said that there was broad agreement between the parties on the need to reposition Sweden's military. He added that he was prepared to reevaluate how every single krona in taxpayers' money was spent.

"Odenberg and I do not reach the same conclusions about reductions in the proposed budget," he said.

Reinfeldt rejected Odenberg's claim that the proposed defence cuts of 4-5 million kronor were baseless. They were based, Reinfeldt said, on the conclusions of the 2004 defence review.

Following Odenberg's resignation, the government announced that it would establish a committee to review defence costs.

Reinfeldt said he would not appoint a new trade minister until after the Liberal Party's conference ends on Sunday. TV8 has reported that Anna Kinberg Batra, chairwoman of the Riksdag's European Union Committee, is lined up for the job.

[Aptrgangr]

"[The Swedish's military's] finances have been disconnected from its purpose," he told a resignation press conference.

"You can't just take away lots of defence procurement spending without it having operative effects," he said.

The cuts, he said, would damage Sweden's capacity to take part in international operations and would make it impossible for Sweden "to belong to the EU's core in defence matters."

The Swedish military has been dicconnected from it's purposes - protecting the people of Sweden. The Swedish military has no business overseas, the real damage has been done to the Swedish military by converting it in a "self-sustaining foreign legion" for foreign interests. Swedish soldiers in desert camouflage stationed in Mazar-i-Sharif, that is truly not what the Swedish army was founded for. The the claim they would protect Swedish people ia the ultimate lie since Swedes are under threat in their very own homeland.

[Menydh]

New defence minister refused to bear arms

We've already have one of those.

[Savorgnan]

Anti-militarism is another European disease. You must have a powerful army to keep your freedom well-alive in a dangerous world,as it always has been the case. Greek city-states,the Roman Republic,Switzerland,even Israël... Mikaël Odenberg is a man of Honor.