Born in 1938. Götlunda. Master of Arts Degree in Swedish language and History, Lund University (1963). Assistant master in Huskvarna (1963-1973). Municipal Councillor in Gränna (1966-1970) and Jönköping (1970-1985) Municipal Councils. Co-founder (1966) and Chairman (1970-1973) of the Christian Democratic Party Youth Organisation (KDU). Member of the Jönköping County Council (1973-1991). Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party (1973-2004). Member of the Swedish Parliament (1985-1988 and 1994-present), Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Chairman of Advisory Board for the NGO Star For Life, an HIV/AIDS prevention programme that targets young people in southern Africa. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Human Rights Issues, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (1991-1994). Vice-President of the European Union of Christian Democrats (1993-1999). MEP since 2009.