Carl Gustaf Ekman

Carl Gustaf Ekman ( born October 6, 1872 in Munktorp, community Köpings, † June 15, 1945 in Stockholm) was a Swedish politician and Prime Minister of Sweden.

Family and career

The son of a soldier and farmer had already help in operating the age of twelve and had to acquire his education self-taught. In addition, he was involved early in the temperance movement, the sick and burial fund ( Nykterhetsvännernas sjuk -och begravningskassa ) he led in Eskilstuna. In addition, he was in 1908 editor of the liberal newspaper Eskilstuna - Kuriren.

Political career

Member of parliament

His first candidacy for the Reichstag as a candidate in the constituency Eskilstuna was unsuccessful, as this constituency was dominated industry and dominated by the Social Democrats. Ekman, therefore, began his political career in 1911 with the election of the members of the upper house of the Diet, where he first represented the constituency of Gävleborg. As a parliamentarian, he soon earned a reputation as a major proponent for a total ban on alcohol. In 1913 he was elected a deputy of the Reichstag for an electoral district of Stockholm, which he then took until 1932.

Liberal party leader

Ekman 1924 Chairman of the newly formed Frisinnade was Folkpartiet, after which it had recently come samlingspartiet because of different views on alcohol policy in cleavage of the Liberala.

In the following years he was the one of the most influential, on the other hand but also the most controversial politicians of the 1920s. In particular, within the Social Democratic Party, he was regarded as " class traitor " because he was a member of a non- socialist party, in spite of his humble origins. Ekman was indeed largely responsible for the resignation of the Socialist governments of Karl Hjalmar Branting 1923 and Rickard Sandler 1926, on the other hand also in 1930 the Conservative government of Arvid Lindman.

Prime Minister from 1926 to 1928

After the resignation of the government Sandler, he was appointed first time as Prime Minister on June 6, 1926 by King Gustav V King. He succeeded in securing also shifting majorities of left and right parties. In addition to a reform of local taxes, he also carried out reforms in the school system. During his tenure, he was from June to September 1926, short-term finance.

However, he had after the election victory of the conservative Allmänna Valmansförbundet (General Confederation voters ) on October 1, 1928, the Office of the Prime Minister Arvid Lindman to leave.

Prime Minister from 1930 to 1932

On June 6, 1930, he succeeded, together with the Chairman of the Social Democratic Workers' Party Per Albin Hansson by a vote of no confidence the government Lindman to pounce on cereals due to a planned increase of the consumption tax. Then he was again appointed Prime Minister by the King.

His second term was however strongly influenced by the Black Thursday of October 24, 1929 caused the stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression, the devastating blow to the Swedish industry and agriculture. Yet his insistence disabled on budgetary discipline, the introduction of high-cost programs to stimulate the economy.

The collapse of Zündwarenmonopols of Ivar Kreuger led to violent political conflicts, especially Ekman was alleged to have received payments. This affair led ultimately to the fact that he on August 6, 1932, a month before the general election, resigned from his position as Prime Minister and then almost completely withdrew from politics. Thus came the Frisinnade Folkpartiet in a crisis. Two years later it came to the creation of a new liberal party, the Folkpartiet.

Web links, and background literature

General biographical information

Biography in Nordisk Familjebok, 1923
Biographies of the Prime Minister
Members of the Swedish governments 1900-1925
Members of the Swedish governments 1925-1946

Background literature

Prime Minister (Sweden)
Swede
Born in 1872
Died in 1945
Man
Minister of Defence (Sweden)
Reichstag (Sweden)

Riksdag Free-minded National Association Liberal People's Party (Sweden) Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp

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