View source for Margot Wallström

{{Short description|Swedish politician (born 1954)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Margot Wallström
| image               = USIP 2023 Missing Peace Global Symposium on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence - Day 1 on 1 November 2023 - 8 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Wallström in 2023
| office              = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden]]
| primeminister       = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| alongside           = 
| term_start          = 3 October 2014
| term_end            = 10 September 2019
| predecessor         = [[Jan Björklund]]
| successor           = [[Morgan Johansson]]
| office1             = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister1      = Stefan Löfven
| term_start1         = 3 October 2014
| term_end1           = 10 September 2019
| predecessor1        = [[Carl Bildt]]
| successor1          = [[Ann Linde]]
| office2             = [[Minister for Nordic Cooperation (Sweden)|Minister for Nordic Cooperation]]
| primeminister2      = Stefan Löfven
| term_start2         = 25 May 2016
| term_end2           = 21 January 2019
| predecessor2        = [[Kristina Persson]]
| successor2          = [[Ann Linde]]
| office3             = [[United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict]]
| term_start3         = April 2010
| term_end3           = 22 June 2012
| 1blankname3         = {{nowrap|Secretary General}}
| 1namedata3          = [[Ban Ki-moon]]
| predecessor3        = ''Office established''
| successor3          = [[Zainab Bangura]]
| office4             = [[Vice-President of the European Commission|First Vice-President of the European Commission]]
| president4          = [[José Manuel Barroso]]
| term_start4         = 22 November 2004
| term_end4           = 9 February 2010
| predecessor4        = Position established
| successor4          = [[Catherine Ashton]]
| office5             = [[List of European Commission portfolios#Communication strategy|European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy]]
| president5          = José Manuel Barroso
| term_start5         = 22 November 2004
| term_end5           = 9 February 2010
| predecessor5        = Position established
| successor5          = [[Maroš Šefčovič]] ([[List of European Commission portfolios#Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration|Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration]])
| office6             = [[European Commissioner for the Environment]]
| president6          = [[Romano Prodi]]
| term_start6         = 13 September 1999
| term_end6           = 11 November 2004
| predecessor6        = [[Ritt Bjerregaard]]
| successor6          = [[Stavros Dimas]]
| office7             = [[Minister for Consumer Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Affairs]]
| primeminister7      = [[Ingvar Carlsson]]
| term_start7         = 4 October 1988
| term_end7           = 4 October 1991
| predecessor7        = Bengt K. Å. Johansson
| successor7          = [[Inger Davidson]]
| office8             = [[Member of the Riksdag]]
| term_start8         = 19 September 1982
| term_end8           = 11 September 1999
| constituency8       = [[Värmland]]
| birth_name          = Margot Elisabeth Wallström
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1954|09|28|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Skellefteå]], Sweden
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democrats]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Håkan Olsson|1984}}
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = 
| residence           = 
| signature           = Margot Wallström signature.svg
| monarch             = [[Carl XVI Gustaf]]
}}
'''Margot Elisabeth Wallström''' ({{IPA|sv|ˈmǎrːɡɔt ˈvâlːstrœm}}; born 28 September 1954)<ref>[http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/111 Address of Margot Wallström to the European Parliament conference on the Northern dimension] Europa (web portal)</ref> is a Swedish politician of the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] who served as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden]] and [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]] from 2014 to 2019 and [[Minister for Nordic Cooperation (Sweden)|Minister for Nordic Cooperation]] from 2016 to 2019.

Wallström previously served as the first [[United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict]] from 2010 to 2012,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/about-us/about-the-office/|title=About the Office – United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stoprapenow.org/page/specialrepresentativeonsexualviolenceinconflict/|title=Stop Rape Now – Features|access-date=10 March 2015|archive-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119220653/http://www.stoprapenow.org/page/specialrepresentativeonsexualviolenceinconflict|url-status=dead}}</ref> as [[Vice-President of the European Commission]] and [[List of European Commission portfolios#Communication strategy|European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy]] from 2004 to 2010, [[European Commissioner for the Environment]] from 1999 to 2004, [[Minister for Consumer Affairs (Sweden)|Minister for Consumer Affairs]] from 1988 to 1991 and [[Member of the Riksdag]] (MP) for [[Värmland]] from 1982 to 1999.

==Early life and career==
Born in [[Skellefteå]], Wallström is a high school graduate without academic degrees. In 1973, she started her career as a banking clerk at the Alfa Savings bank in [[Karlstad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/wallstrom/pdf/bio_wallstrom_sv.pdf|title=The Commissioners|access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref> She worked there from 1977 to 1979, and briefly as an accountant from 1986 to 1987. Wallström was the CEO of a regional TV network in [[Värmland]], Sweden from 1993 to 1994. Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner she was executive vice-president of Worldview Global Media in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka.

==Political career==
Wallström has had a long career in politics in the Swedish parliament, the Swedish government, and the [[European Commission]]. At 25, she was elected to parliament.<ref name="ft">Annie Maccoby Berglof (24 September 2015), [https://www.ft.com/content/77b5fc72-5ddd-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2 Swedish minister Margot Wallstrom: shaking up the world with words] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> She was [[European Commissioner for the Environment|Environment Commissioner]] from 1999 to 2004, and in the Swedish government she was Minister for Consumer Affairs, Women and Youth from 1988 to 1991, Minister for Culture from 1994 to 1996, and Minister for Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998.

===European Commissioner for the Environment, 1999–2004===
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg|thumb|The European Commission, of which Margot Wallström was first Vice-President from 2004 to 2010]]
During her time in office, Wallström pushed the European Commission's initial proposal for [[Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals|REACH]], a [[Regulation (European Union)|regulation]] requiring manufacturers of industrial chemicals to test and register their products with the [[European Chemicals Agency]] before they can be used.<ref>Elizabeth Becker and Jennifer Lee (8 May 2003), [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/08/business/europe-plan-on-chemicals-seen-as-threat-to-us-exports.html Europe Plan on Chemicals Seen as Threat to U.S. Exports] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> In 2004, she approved the importation of a [[Genetically modified maize|genetically modified corn]] from the United States for animal feed after a six-year moratorium, arguing in a statement that the corn produced by biotechnology company [[Monsanto]], known as NK603 maize, had been rigorously tested and was considered "as safe as any conventional maize".<ref>Elizabeth Becker (20 July 2004), [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/business/europe-approves-genetically-modified-corn-as-animal-feed.html Europe Approves Genetically Modified Corn as Animal Feed] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

===First Vice-President of the European Commission, 2004–2010===
In 2004, Wallström became the first member of the [[European Commission]] to operate a blog. The comments section of her site quickly became a hotspot for arguments concerning the policies of the European Union. After the rejection of the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe]] by French and Dutch voters, Wallström pushed forward her "plan D" (for democracy, dialogue and debate) to reconnect Citizens with the Union.<ref>[https://archive.today/20070824020943/http://www.euractiv.com/en/governance/wallstrom-plan-revive-european-dream/article-144593 Will Wallström's 'plan D' revive the European dream?] EurActiv.com</ref> Her work on such platforms, including the backing of the [[oneseat.eu]] petition, has given her a good reputation in some quarters, even being dubbed "the Citizens Commissioner"<ref>[http://www.folkpartiet.se/FPTemplates/ListPage____50741.aspx The European Parliament should work in Brussels] Campaign for Parliament Reform 2006-09-18, Folkpartiet. Retrieved 18 July 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929141123/http://www.folkpartiet.se/FPTemplates/ListPage____50741.aspx |date=29 September 2006 }}</ref> – but has earned her names like "the Propaganda Commissioner" as well from political opponents. [[The Economist]] listed her among the least effective commissioners in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=A commission report-card |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2009/09/24/a-commission-report-card |access-date=14 February 2014 |newspaper=The Economist |date=24 September 2009}}</ref>

In 2006, Wallström presented her a plan to transform the EU's [[Europe by Satellite]] (EbS) video-broadcast service into an EU news agency; the plan was scrapped after press organizations complained that it would undermine the work of reporters covering the EU.<ref>Constant Brand (28 July 2010), [http://www.politico.eu/article/rethinking-the-eus-media-relations/ Rethinking the EU’s media relations] ''[[Politico Europe|European Voice]]''.</ref> Following Sweden's [[2006 Swedish general election|2006 election]], in which the Social Democratic Party lost power, former Prime Minister [[Göran Persson]] announced his withdrawal from politics in March 2007. Wallström was regarded as the favourite candidate to succeed Persson as Social Democratic party leader,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2390&a=573833&previousRenderType=2 |title=Nyheter |work=Dagens Nyheter |access-date=10 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220123337/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2390&a=573833&previousRenderType=2 |archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref> but made clear that she did not wish to be considered for the position.<ref>[https://archive.today/20071001150930/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2390&a=574469&previousRenderType=6 No to leadership, DN] (Swedish) </ref><ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/4980/20060921/ Wallström: I don't want the job (The Local)] (English) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128120537/http://www.thelocal.se/4980/20060921/ |date=28 November 2009}}</ref> The post instead went to [[Mona Sahlin]].

Between 2006 and 2007, Wallström served as member of the [[Amato Group]], a group of high-level European politicians unofficially working on rewriting the [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe]] into what became known as the [[Treaty of Lisbon]] following its rejection by [[2005 French European Constitution referendum|French]] and [[2005 Dutch European Constitution referendum|Dutch]] voters. Immediately after the election of [[Mona Sahlin]] as party leader, Wallström accepted a membership in a group working to develop political strategies for the upcoming [[2009 European Parliament election in Sweden|election to the European Parliament in 2009]]. The membership in this group was considered by Swedish liberal [[Carl B Hamilton]] (and later also [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]]) to constitute a breach of the oath every member of the European Commission gives, which states that any member of the commission should work for the community's best interest with no influence from politicians. European Commission spokespeople [[Mikolaj Dowgielewicz]] and Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen stated that her new assignment was not in conflict with her commissioner position.<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/6734/20070319/ Wallström not breaking rules] (English) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323142340/http://www.thelocal.se/6734/20070319/ |date=23 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.dn.se/?a=630270 Klartecken för Wallströms s-uppdrag] (Swedish)</ref>

In December 2006, Wallström was voted the most popular woman in Sweden, beating royals and athletes in a survey carried out by ''ICA-kuriren'' and [[Sifo]]. In the previous year she had attained second place. Wallström was modest in response stating that "it might be because I'm so far away".<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/5935/20061229/ Sweden loves Reinfeldt and Wallström (The Local)] (English) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103192423/http://www.thelocal.se/5935/20061229/ |date=3 January 2007 }}</ref> On 16 November 2007, Margot Wallström, became Chair of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]] Ministerial Initiative. This position was previously held by former U.S. Secretary of State [[Madeleine K. Albright]].

===United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, 2010–2012===
On 31 January 2010, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, [[Ban Ki-moon]], announced at the African Union summit in Ethiopia his intention to nominate Wallström as his first ever [[United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sgsm12727.doc.htm |title=Secretary-General Pledges United Nations Full Support 'to Build Peace and Prosperity for All Africans', in Remarks to African Union Summit |access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref> As a reaction, Wallström said that she felt "honoured" and "humble" to have been chosen for the job,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-by-margot-wallstrom-vice-president-of-the-european-commission-83211057.html |title=Statement by Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the European Commission |author=Delegation of the European Union to the United States |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref> which she started in April 2010.

In August 2010, Ban sent Wallström to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] to help investigate claims that rebel fighters raped more than 150 women and baby boys over four days within miles of a UN base in the country.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-11079135 UN investigates claims of mass rape by DR Congo rebels], [[BBC News]], 24 August 2010.</ref> Wallström later addressed the [[United Nations Security Council]] in a September 2010 session on the use of [[Wartime sexual violence|sexual violence as a weapon]] by both rebel militias and [[Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo|government troops]] in the eastern provinces of the DRC. In her speech, she demonstrated that the rapes in the [[North Kivu]] and [[South Kivu]] provinces "were not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of widespread systematic rape and pillage".<ref>Neil MacFarquhar (7 September 2010), [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/world/africa/08nations.html U.N. Officials Say 500 Were Victims of Congo Rapes] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

On 18 September 2010, Wallström confirmed that when her assignment with the UN came to an end in February 2012, she would become the chair of the University Board at [[Lund University]] in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/wallstrom-leder-lunds-universitet/ |title=Wallström leder Lunds universitet |work=Dagens Nyheter |access-date=10 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923111355/http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/wallstrom-leder-lunds-universitet-1.1173001 |archive-date=23 September 2010}}</ref>

===Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, 2014–2019===
On 3 October 2014, when the Social Democratic leader [[Stefan Löfven]] became Prime Minister, Wallström was appointed to the Swedish government as Minister of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/svd-live-lofven-presenterar-sina-ministrar_3974982.svd|title=24 ministrar i den nya regeringen|work=Svenska Dagbladet|date=3 October 2014|access-date=10 March 2015|last1=Thurfjell|first1=Karin}}</ref> On 30 October 2014, Wallström became the first EU foreign minister to recognise the [[State of Palestine]], with a view to "facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal";<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.se/debatt/sweden-today-decides-to-recognise-the-state-of-palestine/|title=Sweden today decides to recognise the State of Palestine |author=Margot Wallström|date=30 October 2014 |work=Dagens Nyheter|access-date=30 October 2014}}</ref> as a result, Israel the same day recalled its ambassador for consultations.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Israel-recalls-ambassador-to-Stockholm-after-Swedens-decision-to-recognize-Palestinian-state-380351 Israel recalls ambassador to Stockholm after Sweden's decision to recognize Palestinian state], Jerusalem Post 30 October 2014</ref> Although a visit by Wallström to Israel had been planned for January 2015, Israel's foreign minister [[Avigdor Lieberman]] and prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] declined to receive her.<ref name="svd_15jan2015" /> Wallström's diplomatic immunity status in Israel was also revoked which meant that if she visited Israel she would do as an individual rather than an official of a foreign state, which would normally mean enjoying protection by security services.<ref name="svd_15jan2015">{{cite news|title=Kraftig markering från Israels sida|url=http://www.svd.se/kraftig-markering-fran-israels-sida|access-date=19 November 2015|work=[[Svenska Dagbladet]]|date=15 January 2015}}</ref> In a March 2018 interview, she stated that the intent behind the recognition was to speed up the process towards a [[Two-state solution]] but also admitted that no progress on that issue had been made.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://judiskkronika.se/att-kallas-antisemit-kanns-fruktansvart-och-ar-direkt-felaktigt/|title=Att kallas antisemit känns fruktansvärt och är direkt felaktigt|work="Att kallas antisemit känns fruktansvärt och är direkt felaktigt" {{!}} JUDISK KRÖNIKA|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321171504/http://judiskkronika.se/att-kallas-antisemit-kanns-fruktansvart-och-ar-direkt-felaktigt/|archive-date=21 March 2018|language=sv-SE|quote=Interviewer: "När ni erkände Palestina som stat sa du de var för att påskynda utvecklingen mot en tvåstatslösning. Har den kommit närmare?" MW: – Nej, det kan man inte säga att den har gjort, men det beror inte så mycket på oss utan mer att USA aktivt tagit på sig en annan roll, och utvecklingen generellt i världen har ju inte hjälpt till."}}</ref>

In December 2014, Wallström called in the Russian ambassador to Sweden, Victor Ivanovitj Tatarintsev, over the behaviour of a Russian military jet which Swedish authorities said had caused an SAS flight from [[Copenhagen]] to [[Poznań]], Poland, to change course off southern Sweden; the incident inflamed sensitivities over Russian flights in the Nordic region, driven in part by tensions over separatism in eastern [[Ukraine]].<ref>Daniel Dickson (15 December 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/sweden-russia-airplane-idUSL6N0TZ1Y120141215 Nordic countries summon Russian ambassadors over military jet incident] [[Reuters]].</ref> On 11 September 2015, she again summoned Russia's ambassador to explain comments from the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian foreign ministry]] warning of "consequences" if Sweden joins [[NATO]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34225903 Sweden summons Russia ambassador after Nato threat] ''[[BBC News]]'', 11 September 2015.</ref>

[[File:Secretary Kerry and Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström Pose for a Photo Before Co-Hosting the Ministerial on Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Emergencies in New York City (21676984038).jpg|thumb|Wallström with U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]], 1 October 2015]]
In January 2015, Wallström [[Twitter|tweeted]] criticism of [[Saudi Arabia]]'s flogging of human rights activist blogger [[Raif Badawi]], calling it a "cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression".<ref>Ahmed Tolba and Johan Ahlander (27 March 2015), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-sweden-idUSKBN0MN2H220150327 Saudi Arabia decides to restore ambassador to Sweden: Al Arabiya TV] [[Reuters]].</ref> In May 2015, [[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] appointed Wallström as member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing, an initiative aimed at preparing recommendations for the 2016 [[World Humanitarian Summit]].<ref>[https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sgsm16772.doc.htm Secretary-General Appoints High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing] [[United Nations Secretary-General]], press release of 21 May 2015.</ref> One of Wallström's main foreign policy goals was to secure one of the non-permanent seats for Sweden on the UN Security Council in the [[2016 United Nations Security Council election|2016 elections]].<ref>Richard Milne (30 March 2015), [http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/837e6704-d16c-11e4-98a4-00144feab7de.html Sweden’s ethical foreign policy runs into Saudi sands] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> This was achieved on 28 June 2016.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160629190209/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sweden-wins-seat-security-council-ballot-40190680 Sweden, Kazakhstan Win Contested Security Council Elections] Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press</ref>

[[File:Välisministri visiit Rootsi 26.05.2018 (40557740090).jpg|thumb|Wallström with Estonian Foreign Minister [[Sven Mikser]], Latvian Foreign Minister [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]] and Lithuanian Foreign Minister [[Linas Antanas Linkevičius]], on 26 May 2018]]
In February 2018, Wallström cancelled her visit to [[Turkey]] that was due in two weeks to protest the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin|Turkish invasion of northern Syria]] aimed at ousting U.S.-backed [[People's Protection Units|Syrian Kurds]] from the enclave of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedish FM Wallström Cancels Turkey Visit Over Its Military Campaign in Afrin|url=https://stockholmcf.org/swedish-fm-wallstrom-cancels-turkey-visit-over-its-military-campaign-in-afrin/|agency=Stockholm Center for Freedom|date=7 February 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, Wallström met with Iranian deputy foreign minister [[Abbas Araghchi]] in her office, a meeting which was unannounced by the Swedish [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/wallstroms-hemliga-mote-med-ministern-fran-iran/|title=Margot Wallström i hemligt möte med minister från Iran|website=Expressen|date=20 December 2018 |language=sv|access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref>

==Political positions==
[[File:All You Need is Love - Stockholm Pride 2014 - 02.jpg|thumb|The [[Stockholm Pride]] parade in August 2014]]
Wallström "promised a 'feminist' foreign policy when her Social Democrats formed the coalition government" in October 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/margot-wallstrm-can-swedens-feminist-foreign-minister-be-both-radical-and-influential--and-make-the-country-a-moral-great-power-10112015.html|title=Margot Wallström: Can Sweden's feminist foreign minister be both radical and influential – and make the country a 'moral great power'?|author=Alistair Scrutton|date=16 March 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> She has criticized the lack of [[women's rights in Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/03/11/world/europe/ap-eu-sweden-saudi-arabia.html|title=Saudi Arabia Recalls Ambassador From Sweden as Rift Widens|date=11 March 2015|agency=Associated Press|access-date=23 January 2016|work=The New York Times}}</ref> ''[[The Spectator]]'', the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language, wrote:
{{Quotation|The Swedish foreign minister denounced the subjugation of women in Saudi Arabia. As the theocratic kingdom prevents women from travelling, conducting official business or marrying without the permission of male guardians, and as girls can be forced into child marriages where they are effectively raped by old men, she was telling no more than the truth.}}
On 10 March 2015 Sweden announced it would revoke a weapons export agreement with Saudi Arabia that had been in place since 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21647357-who-could-take-offence-over-speech-womens-rights-arab-league-clean-hands-fewer-friends|title=Clean hands, fewer friends|date=28 March 2015|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> Saudi Arabia retaliated by stopping [[Visa policy of Saudi Arabia|visa issues]] for Swedish businesspeople, boycotting Wallström's speech from the [[Arab League]], temporarily withdrawing their ambassador from Sweden,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/09/swedish-foreign-minister-margot-wallstrom-saudi-arabia-blocked-speech-human-rights|title=Swedish frustration with Saudis over speech may jeopardise arms agreement|author=David Crouch|work=The Guardian|date=9 March 2015|access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-sweden-idUSKBN0MN2H220150327|title=Saudi Arabia decides to restore ambassador to Sweden: Al Arabiya TV|website=[[Reuters]] |agency=Reuters Editorial|date=27 March 2015|access-date=23 January 2016}}</ref> and refusing to accept four [[pygmy marmoset|Amazonian monkeys]] from a Swedish zoo.<ref name="Saudis refuse monkeys">{{cite news|url=  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32216741|title=Saudis refuse Swedish zoo's monkeys in diplomatic spat|work=BBC News|date=8 April 2015}}</ref>

[[Carl XVI Gustaf|King Carl XVI Gustaf]] then offered to mediate with the Saudi king, and a fellow Social Democrat member of the government, [[Björn von Sydow]], travelled to meet [[Salman bin Abdul Aziz|King Salman bin Abdul Aziz]] and [[Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud|Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud]], taking him private letters from the Swedish King and from Prime Minister [[Stefan Löfven]]. These have remained classified, but in a press conference on 28 March, Wallström said: "I am very pleased to announce that we can normalize our relations immediately, and that we are able to welcome the Saudi ambassador back to Sweden. It is deeply satisfying that we have been able to clear the misunderstanding that we insulted the world religion Islam."{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Wallström has called for more articles on Wikipedia about women-related topics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/samhalle/a/4dBnGq/regeringen-kraver-fler-artiklar-om-kvinnor-pa-wikipedia|title=Regeringens satsning: Vill se fler artiklar om kvinnor på Wikipedia|work=Aftonbladet|access-date=15 February 2018|language=sv}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===European integration===
In 2005, Wallström, in her capacity as EU Commissioner responsible for communications, came under pressure to justify her handling of a controversial speech that linked opposition to [[European integration]] with Nazi genocide, after it emerged she had changed the version published on the internet to remove the controversial passage. The original version of the speech, given to journalists ahead of Wallström's visit to [[Terezin]] in the [[Czech Republic]] to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, suggested that scrapping the idea of a [[Supranational union|supranational]] Europe could put the continent back on the road to a [[holocaust]].<ref>Raphael Minder (13 May 2005), [http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/11f37e2e-c34b-11d9-abf1-00000e2511c8.html Commissioner under fire over 'Nazi' speech] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>

===Israel===
In the aftermath of the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]] in which 137 were murdered, Wallström told Swedish television network [[SVT2]]: "To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East of which not the least the Palestinians see that, for us, there is no future: we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence." The Israeli government reacted angrily to Wallström's linking the attacks to the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], summoning the Swedish ambassador and saying Wallström's statement bordered on antisemitism and [[blood libel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-slams-sweden-for-invoking-palestinian-plight-in-paris-attacks/ |date=16 November 2015 |title=Israel slams Sweden for invoking Palestinian plight while discussing Paris attacks |work=The Times of Israel|access-date=16 November 2015}}</ref>

In December 2015, Wallström denounced the [[2015–2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict|ongoing wave]] of Palestinian knife and car-ramming attacks in Israel.<ref name = "local2016">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20161228/sweden-hits-back-at-anti-semitism-israel-accusations|title=Sweden hits back at anti-Semitism accusations|date=28 December 2016 }}</ref> On 12 January 2016, Wallström called for an investigation into whether Israel was guilty of the extrajudicial killings of [[Palestinians]] during the violence, causing further anger in the Israeli political establishment. The Foreign Ministry of Israel issued an official statement saying that Wallström's "irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Israel-blasts-Swedish-FM-for-supporting-terrorism-encouraging-violence-441266 |title=Israel blasts Swedish FM for 'supporting terrorism, encouraging violence' |access-date=13 January 2016|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=12 January 2016 }}</ref> This also caused further deterioration in Israel-Sweden relations, and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel [[Tzipi Hotovely]] declared that Swedish politicians of the rank of deputy minister and above are not welcome in Israel. Though she later clarified that it was only the Foreign Minister and her aids what are not welcome.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/swedish-officials-unwelcome-in-israel-deputy-fm-says/ |title=Swedish officials unwelcome, deputy FM says |access-date=13 January 2016 |author=Raphael Ahren and Tamar Pileggi|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> International law expert [[Noah Feldman]] stated Wallström misunderstands [[international law]], which does not apply in these cases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-14/sweden-s-foreign-minister-misunderstands-international-law |title=Sweden's Foreign Minister Misunderstands International Law |access-date=17 January 2016 |author=Noah Feldman}}</ref> The [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] placed Wallström at place eight on its annual list of the worst "anti-semitic/anti-israel incidents".<ref name="local2016" />

Although she has criticized Israel, Wallström opposes the [[Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement, supports Israel's right to defend itself, and is in favor of the [[two-state solution]] to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4777993,00.html "As Livni visits, Swedish FM says she is against BDS."] ''Ynetnews''. 13 March 2016.</ref> She expressed her condemnation of BDS during an "Israel day" conference held by the Jewish community in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/106086-160313-swedish-foreign-minister-declares-opposition-to-anti-israel-boycott-movement |title=Wallstrom publicly declared support for Israel's right to defend itself and opposition to BDS movement. |publisher=i24news |access-date=16 March 2016 |author=Tal Shalev}}</ref> During Wallström's December 2016 visit to Israel and the [[Palestinian Authority]], many Israeli officials, including Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], refused to meet her, citing scheduling conflicts. Some sources suggest that the refusal stemmed from Wallström's policy on Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.758613 |title=Israel Turns Cold Shoulder to Visiting Swedish Foreign Minister|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Haaretz |author=Barak Ravid|date=13 December 2016 }}</ref> Wallström welcomed the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334|UN Security Council Resolution 2334]] and said it confirms the position of both the EU and Sweden on the continued [[Israeli settlements|Israeli settlement]] of the occupied [[West Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20161224/sweden-welcomes-un-vote-denouncing-israeli-settlements |title=Sweden welcomes UN vote denouncing Israeli settlements – The Local |website=Thelocal.se |date=24 December 2016}}</ref>

===Rented apartment===
On 15 January 2016, ''[[Aftonbladet]]'' published information that Wallström was one of several labour officials who rented apartment in Stockholm, owned by the [[Swedish Municipal Workers' Union]], bypassing an average eight-year waiting list. Wallström replied that she acted in good faith and received a confirmation from highest-ranking officials, that all norms and rules were followed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20160115/swedish-labour-bosses-under-fire-over-housing| title=Did top bosses get help jumping housing queue?|publisher=[[Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå]]/Agence France-Presse/The Local|date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.svd.se/elitgranskare-kanner-igen-wallstroms-agerande|title=Wallström har fjärmat sig från verkligheten|date=16 January 2016|newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]]|last1=Augustsson|first1=Tomas}}</ref> Wallström accused the union's general secretary [[Annelie Nordström]] of not being truthful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article22097426.ab|title=Wallström: Jag har inget skämmas för|date=15 January 2016}}</ref> The affair caused a controversy<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35351481|title=Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom under fire – again|work=BBC News|access-date=24 January 2016| author=Laurence Peter|date=20 January 2016}}</ref> and prompted an investigation by a special prosecutor.<ref>{{cite web|author=Henriette Jacobsen|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/swedish-foreign-minister-margot-wallstrom-investigated-over-corruption-claims/|title=Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström investigated over corruption claims|date=19 January 2016|publisher=EURACTIV}}</ref> The prosecutor closed the investigation in May 2016 and cleared Wallström, stating that there was no evidence any crime had been committed.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/swedens-foreign-minister-cleared-in-corruption-inquiry|title=Sweden's foreign minister cleared in corruption inquiry|newspaper=The Straits Times |agency=Agence France-Presse|date=24 May 2016}}</ref>

===Turkish child sex tweet===
On 24 August 2016 Wallström tweeted that "Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed. Children need more protection, not less, against violence, sex abuse." This was after the [[Constitutional Court of Turkey]] cancelled a constitutional provision that made all sexual activities with children under the age of 15 criminal as [[sexual abuse]]. Turkish foreign minister [[Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu]] summoned Swedish ambassador for reprimand meeting and deputy prime minister [[Mehmet Simsek]] accused Wallström of being misinformed and acting without checking all facts. The original case was brought to the Constitutional Court by a lower court that was afraid there is no legal discrimination between teenagers that may understand the meaning of sex and toddlers that do not understand it.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thelocal.se/20160815/turkey-summons-swedish-envoy-over-child-sex-tweet | title=Turkey summons Swedish envoy over child sex tweet | date=15 August 2016 | access-date=6 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-constitutional-court-stirs-outrage-by-annulling-child-sex-abuse-clause.aspx?pageID=238&nid=101607 | title=Turkey's Constitutional Court stirs outrage by annulling child sex abuse clause | date=14 July 2016 | access-date=6 September 2016}}</ref>

==Other activities==
===Corporate boards===
* Edberg Dialog, Member of the Board
* Ica Gruppen, Member of the board of directors (2013–2014)

===Non-profit organizations===
* [[Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue]] (HD), Member of the Board (since 2020)<ref>[https://www.hdcentre.org/updates/former-swedish-foreign-minister-joins-hds-foundation-board/ Former Swedish Foreign Minister joins HD’s Foundation Board] [[Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue]] (HD), press release of 16 September 2020.</ref>
* Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP), Member of the Advisory Board<ref>[https://centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/advisory-council Advisory Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402140533/https://centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/advisory-council/ |date=2 April 2022 }} Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP).</ref>
* [[European Council on Foreign Relations]] (ECFR), Member
* [[International Crisis Group]], Member of the Board of Trustees
* [[International Gender Champions]] (IGC), Member<ref>[https://genderchampions.com/champions Members] [[International Gender Champions]] (IGC).</ref>
* Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB), Chair of the International Advisory Council<ref>[https://www.ihrb.org/about/council/margot-wallstrom International Advisory Council: Margot Wallström] Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB).</ref>
* Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ), Member of the International Advisory Council
* Svenska PostkodStiftelsen, Member of the board of directors
* [[Enough Project]], Fellow
* Global Challenge Foundation, Member of the Board (2013–2014)
* Institute for Human Rights and Business, Advisor (2012–2014), Chair (2020–present)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Institute for Human Rights and Business|url=https://www.ihrb.org/|access-date=7 August 2021|website=ihrb.org}}</ref>
* [[International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance]] (IDEA), Member of the Advisory Board (2011–2014)
* [[Lund University]], Chairwoman of the University Board (2012–2014)

==Recognition==
* 2001 – [[Honorary doctor]] at [[Chalmers University]], Sweden
* 2002 – [[European Commissioner]] of the Year (by ''[[European Voice]]'')
* 2004 – Honorary doctor at [[Mälardalen University]], Sweden
* 2004 – [[Environmental impact assessment|IAIA]] Global Environmental Award
* 2005 – Honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] Degree, [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]], [[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]]
* 2008 – Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development (jointly with [[Theo Colborn]], Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus
* 2009 – [[Monismanien Prize|Monismanien Prize for Freedom of Speech]]
* 2016 – Grand Star of the Order of Jerusalem, [[State of Palestine]]<ref name="ynet17Dec2016">{{cite news|title=Swedish FM warmly received, decorated in Ramallah|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4894246,00.html|access-date=26 December 2016|publisher=YNet|date=17 December 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wallström has been married to her husband, Håkan, since 1984.<ref name="ft"/> She has two sons.<ref name="ft"/> She lives in [[Stockholm]] and [[Värmland]].<ref name="ft"/>

==Publications==
*2007 Foreword to [[Al Gore]]'s Swedish translation of the book ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]''.<ref>[http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/blog_wallstrom/page/wallstrom?entry=al_gore_and_the_hot Al Gore and the hot issues] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609092143/http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/blog_wallstrom/page/wallstrom?entry=al_gore_and_the_hot |date=9 June 2007 }} Wallström's blog</ref>
*2004 Book (together with [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Göran Färm]]): ''The People's Europe or Why is it so hard to love the EU?''<ref>Swedish: "Folkens Europa eller Varför är det så svårt att älska EU?” – {{ISBN|91-89660-54-4}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of foreign ministers in 2017]]
*[[List of current foreign ministers]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Margot Wallström}}
*[http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/wallstrom/index_en.htm Archived website, The members of the Barroso Commission (2004–2009)]
*[http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_1999_2004/wallstrom/index_en.htm Archived website as Commissioner for the Environment]

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{{United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict}}
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[[Category:Swedish European commissioners]]
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