Lisbeth Palme

Anna Lisbeth Christina Palme (née Beck-Friis; 14 March 1931 – 18 October 2018) was a Swedish children's psychologist, UNICEF chairwoman and the wife of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, until his assassination in 1986.[1]

Lisbeth Palme
Lisbeth Palme in 2016 at the 30th anniversary ceremony of the Olof Palme murder
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Sweden
In role
8 October 1982 – 28 February 1986
Prime MinisterOlof Palme
Preceded bySolveig Fälldin
Succeeded byIngrid Carlsson
In role
14 October 1969 – 8 October 1976
Prime MinisterOlof Palme
Preceded byAina Erlander
Succeeded bySolveig Fälldin
Personal details
Born
Anna Lisbeth Christina Beck-Friis

(1931-03-14)14 March 1931
Stockholm, Sweden
Died18 October 2018(2018-10-18) (aged 87)
Stockholm, Sweden
Political partySocial Democrats
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1956; died 1986)​
Children

Biography

Early life and studies

Anna Lisbeth Christina Beck-Friis was born to civil engineer and baron Christian Beck-Friis and his wife Anna-Lisa Beck-Friis (née Bolling).[2] After graduating from the Nya Elementarskolan för flickor (New Elementary School for Girls) in Stockholm in 1950, she studied at Stockholm University, graduating in the summer of 1955.[3][4]

Career

Palme worked as a children's psychologist and was during a period of time employed at Stockholm County Council, and later at the social department for Stockholm county.[5]

She was the chairman of the Swedish UNICEF committee between 1987 and 1999,[6] and in that role campaigned against the sexual exploitation of children.[7] She became the international chairwoman for UNICEF between 1990 and 1991.[1]

Palme was one of the champions for the Children's convention (Barnkonventionen) which was later established.[8] She was a member of the Organisation of African Unity committee of investigation into the Rwandan genocide which reported its findings in 2000.[9]

Personal life

Lisbeth married politician Olof Palme on 9 June 1956. He later became Sweden's prime minister; firstly between 1969 and 1976, and again between 1982 and 1986.[10] Together they had three sons: Joakim, Mårten and Mattias.[11] The couple had been married for almost 30 years when Olof Palme was assassinated in 1986.[10]

Lisbeth Palme was an eyewitness to the murder of her husband on the night of 28 February 1986.[10] During the trial, she pointed out Christer Pettersson as being the perpetrator of the killing.[10] According to a detective present, she also made remarks that it was evident that Pettersson was an alcoholic.[12][13] The comments were interpreted by some as if she had been informed that the suspect was an alcoholic and a drug addict.[12] Several experts have, over the years, pointed towards the possibility that Lisbeth Palme may have identified the wrong man.[14]

Lisbeth and Olof Palme on their honeymoon in 1956

Death

Palme died on 18 October 2018, after suffering from an unspecified illness for some time.[13] She was 87.

References
  1. "Lisbet Palme, widow of murdered Swedish PM, dies aged 87". The Local. 18 October 2018.
  2. "Palme, S Olof J". Vem är det : Svensk biografisk handbok (in Swedish). Stockholm: Project Runeberg. 1981. p. 822. ISBN 978-91-1-805012-1.
  3. "Bilden Palme helst hade sluppit vara med på". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish).
  4. "Lisbeth Palme". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. "Stefan Löfven: 'Hade många fina samtal med Lisbeth Palme'" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. 18 October 2018.
  6. "Lisbet Palme var en orädd och kraftfull förespråkare för barns rätt" (in Swedish). UNICEF Sveriges blog. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  7. "Sexual Exploitation Is Up, Experts Say". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 12 June 1996. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012.
  8. "Lisbeth Palme kämpade för barnens rättigheter". Aftonbladet (in Swedish).
  9. Brittain, Victoria (7 July 2000). "Africans say UN must pay for genocide". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  10. "Who Murdered Olof Palme?". Observer. 16 November 2016.
  11. "Sönerna: "Olof Palme var en gladlynt och positiv person"". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 26 February 2016.
  12. "LEDARE: Lisbet Palme har skäl att vara kritisk". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 25 October 2001. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  13. "Reports: Widow of slain former Swedish PM Olof Palme dies". The Miami Herald. 18 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  14. "Palmeexpert: Lisbet hade fel i vittnesmålet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 28 February 2013.

Further reading

Media related to Lisbet Palme at Wikimedia Commons

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