Profile
Minister of Defence Carl Haglund
Carl ”Calle” Haglund was born on 29 March 1979 in Espoo. His father is Professor of Surgery at the University of Helsinki and his mother has a University Diploma for Correspondent.
Carl Haglund went to School in Matinkylä, Espoo and took his matriculation examination in Mattlidens gymnasium upper secondary school in the International Baccalaureate programme. During upper secondary school studies, he went on a student exchange to Maryland, the United States.
After matriculation Haglund started to work as General Secretary of the Student Union at Sydväst Polytechnic (currently Novia University of Applied Sciences) which operated in Tammisaari, Turku and Espoo. While working, he started to study at the Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki and graduated as Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration) in 2007. He also studied public administration at Åbo Akademi University.
As a student, Haglund worked as Editor-in-Chief of the Studentbladet student newspaper, Secretary for the Svensk Ungdom youth organisation of the Swedish People’s Party, Programme Host for Radio Vega’s news programme Aktuellt and Guide at the Hvitträsk Museum. He has also been an entrepreneur in the sector of printing and graphic art. In 2005-2007 he was Editor-in-Chief of Papper, a free newspaper.
Haglund's interest in politics grew during the year he spent in the United States on a student exchange. In 1997 Haglund became active in the Swedish People's Party of Finland. Over the years, he has had various positions in the party, for example as Vice Chair of the Svensk Ungdom youth organisation and as member of the party's board and district board.
Haglund stood for election in local government elections in Espoo in 2000. Since then he has been active in local politics in Espoo City Board, City Council and municipal committees. Between 2001 and 2009 he has acted as Chair of the Swedish People's Party group and member of the City Council (deputy and permanent member). Haglund has been a member of the Swedish Assembly of Finland (Folktinget) for many years and chaired the Swedish People's Party group since 2007. He has also had several position of trust in the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, Uusimaa Regional Council and other local government cooperation bodies.
In 2000, Haglund stood as a candidate for the Swedish People's Party in parliamentary elections. He did not get elected but, thanks to the good turnout of votes, he was offered a position as Special Adviser to Minister of Culture Stefan Wallin. He then went ahead as Adviser to the Ministers of the Swedish People's Party and, in autumn 2008, he was appointed State Secretary to the Minister of Culture and Sport. In spring 2009 Haglund stood for election in the European Parliament elections and got elected as a representative of the Swedish People's Party.
In European Parliament, Haglund acted as Vice Chair of the Fisheries Committee, Coordinator of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, member of the Budget Committee and substitute member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. He was also a Member of two temporary committees: the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis Committee and the Policy Challenges Committee which was set up to define the Parliament's priorities for the EU's multiannual financial framework 2014-2020. In addition, he has acted as Chair of a working group dealing with minority affairs in European Parliament and as Vice Chair of the Parliament's Baltic Sea group.
In summer 2012 he was elected Party Leader of the Swedish People’s Party and in July 2012 he took office as Minister of Defence.
Haglund is married and has two children. Haglund loves spending his leisure time with his family in the archipelago. He does various sports, and enjoys reading and woodwork..