(Gerhard) Louis De Geer | |
---|---|
17th Prime Minister of Sweden | |
In office 27 October 1920 – 23 February 1921 ( 119 days) |
|
Monarch | Gustaf V |
Preceded by | Hjalmar Branting |
Succeeded by | Oscar von Sydow |
Personal details | |
Born |
Kristianstad |
27 November 1854
Died | 25 February 1935 Kviinge, Östra Göinge, Skåne |
(aged 80)
Political party | Independent |
Spouse(s) | Magdalena Sörensen |
Alma mater | Uppsala University |
Baron Gerhard Louis De Geer of Finspång (usually known as Louis De Geer; 27 November 1854 – 25 February 1935) was a Swedish politician, who served in the first chamber of the Riksdag 1901-14, was governor of Kristianstad County 1905-23, and Prime Minister of Sweden for 121 days in 1920-1921.
Louis De Geer was son of the baron and former prime minister Louis Gerhard De Geer and Caroline Wachtmeister. He was born in Kristianstad in the province of Scania, Kristianstad County. After juridical studies at the University of Uppsala, he entered politics. He was a member of the first chamber as a representative of Kristianstad County 1901–14 and served as governor of that county 1905–23. De Geer was at first a moderate liberal, but became a member of the minority party in the first chamber. At the inception of the Liberal Coalition Party in 1912, he joined them. By 1914, he left that party, and becoming a political maverick. In the following years he was chairman of the committee that came up with the suggestion of an eight-hour work day in 1919, which strengthened his ties to the social democrats.
The sitting prime minister Hjalmar Branting had to resign after the election loss in 1920, but stalled the process just to block a right-wing government. The Head of State, King Gustav V, queried the party leaders about the conditions of the party-based parliament. The right-wing leaders protested, but the social democrats accepted the interim government appointed by the King.