STOCKHOLM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ann Linde has replaced Margot Wallstrom as Sweden's minister for foreign affairs.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday afternoon during the Swedish parliament's first session after the summer recess.
"Ann is a skilled and experienced politician, who until now has been foreign trade minister and minister for the Nordic issues. She has both a solid knowledge and a wide network of contacts in the world," said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by Swedish public broadcaster SVT.
"I am happy and proud to take up the post of foreign minister," Ann Linde said.
On Friday, Wallstrom announced plans to resign from the Swedish government, citing a desire to spend more time with her family after five years as foreign minister.
Wallstrom's legacy is marked by her role in developing what has been described as Sweden's "feminist foreign policy," a direction in which Linde plans to continue.
"We will continue to pursue a feminist foreign policy," she said.
"I feel that it is my role to drive a foreign policy that contributes to peace and security. But also that we strengthen security here at home," Linde said.
Since January 2019, Linde has been serving as minister for foreign trade and minister for Nordic cooperation. Prior to that, she served as minister for EU trade and foreign affairs from 2016 to 2018.
Born in 1961, Linde studied political science, sociology and economics before joining the government in 1989 as a desk officer at the Ministry of Public Administration and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In 2013-2014, Linde was stationed in Brussels, working as head of the international department of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
