11 Facts About Ola Ullsten

Stig Kjell Olof "Ola" Ullsten was a Swedish politician and diplomat who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 1978 to 1979 and leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1978 to 1983.

Ola Ullsten served as Deputy Prime Minister briefly in 1978 and then again from 1980 to 1982 and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1979 to 1982.

Stig Kjell Olof Ola Ullsten was born in Teg, Vasterbotten, a small town that would ultimately be annexed as a part of county capital Umea.

Ola Ullsten joined the Liberal Youth of Sweden and the People's Party in the spring of 1958.

Ola Ullsten served as the head of the Liberal Youth of Sweden between 1962 and 1964 and was elected to parliament in 1964.

When Liberal Party leader Per Ahlmark resigned in 1978, Ola Ullsten was elected party leader.

Ola Ullsten then succeeded to the post of Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a minority government consisting of Liberal Party and independent ministers.

Ola Ullsten then went on to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs under the new three-party government of Thorbjorn Falldin from 1979 to 1982.

Ola Ullsten has later served as the Swedish Ambassador to Canada, accredited to The Bahamas from 1984 to 1989 and Italy, accredited to Albania from 1989 to 1995.

Ola Ullsten died on 28 May 2018 at the age of 86 after an unspecified illness.

Ola Ullsten was awarded the Illis quorum by the government of Sweden in 2001.