Ebba Busch Thor

Ebba Busch Thor
Leader of the Christian Democrats
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 April 2015
Party secretary	Acko Ankarberg Johansson
Preceded by	Göran Hägglund
Personal details
Born	Ebba Elisabeth Busch-Christiansen February 11, 1987 Gamla Uppsala, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Political party	Kristdemokraterna
Spouse(s)	Niklas Thor
Children	1
Alma mater	Uppsala University
Religion	Unidentified Christian

Ebba Busch Thor, born Ebba-Elisabeth Busch-Christensen, ^[1] (born 11 February 1987) is a Swedish politician of the Christian Democrats. She is the leader of the party since 25 April 2015,^[2] and also a councillor in opposition in Uppsala municipality.

Early life and education

Born to a Swedish mother and Norwegian father, Busch Thor identifies as both Norwegian and Swedish.^[3] Growing up in Gunsta, near Uppsala, she was a student at the Christian Livets Ord primary school. She later studied the IB Diploma Programme at Katedralskolan in Uppsala, and peace and conflict studies at Uppsala University.^[4]

Political career

Busch Thor was the municipal party political secretary for the Christian Democrats councillor Gustaf von Essen in the Uppsala Municipality. In 2009 she assumed responsibility for the budget when Essen went on sick leave, and at the age of 22 she became a substitute municipal councillor.^[5] Ahead of the election for municipal councillors in Uppsala in 2010, the party suggested that Busch Thor should be placed third on the election ballot, while the incumbent councillor Gustav von Essen would be first.^[6] The party youth organization chairman Charlie Weimers, who did not get to vote in the election, wrote that he thought the party should have Busch Thor at the top of the ballot.^[7] In the end, a closed vote within the party decided the top name on the ballot, and Busch Thor beat Essen by a margin of two votes.^[8][9] At the election, Busch Thor received 1,679 votes, against only 220 for Essen.^[10] Busch Thor served as vice chairman of the Christian Democrat youth organisation until 5 June 2011.

Busch Thor made several comments to the media during 2010 criticizing the then party chairman Göran Hägglund, and what she perceived as his weak leadership following the 2006 General Election. Ahead of the January 2012 leadership election within the party, she supported Hägglund's opponent Mats Odell.^[11] She was also herself a candidate for the post of deputy party chairman at the same election, but lost to Maria Larsson.^[11]

In 2015 Busch Thor was announced as the suggested successor of Göran Hägglund as party leader of the Christian Democratic party, and was formally elected on 25 April.^[12]

Personal life

In 2013, Ebba Busch married the footballer Niklas Thor.^[13] She is mother of one child, born in 2015.^[14]

References

1. "Ebba-Elisabeth Busch". Upplysning.se. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
2. "Ebba Busch Thor har valts till ny KD-ledare" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. 25 April 2015.
3. "Hurra for syttende mai!!". ebbabusch.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
4. Karl-Anders Lindahl (11 March 2015) 8 snabba fakta som ger dig allt du behöver veta om Ebba Busch Thor (Swedish) Nyheter24.se
5. direktpress Ebba Busch Retrieved 11 February 2015
6. Segersam. "Segersams blogg". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
7. "Ebba Busch for Mayor!". Charlie Weimers. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
8. Segersam. "Segersams blogg". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
9. "Busch i täten för kristdemokrater". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
10. Uppsala - Busc i täten för Kristdemokraterna Retrieved 11 February 2015
11. Världen idag. "LIVE: Kristdemokraternas extra riksting har startat". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
12. Sveriges Radio. "Ebba Busch Thor to lead the Christian Democrats". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
13. "Nu har vi fått tillbaka en av stans bästa spelare". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
14. "KD-ledaren Ebba Busch Thor har blivit mamma". svt Nyheter. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.

External links

• Media related to Ebba Busch Thor at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website