Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the center-right alliance that won the Sept. 17 election.

Reinfeldt assumed leadership of the main opposition Moderate Party in 2003, a year after its poor showing in 2002 elections. In three years, he revived the party by softening its conservative image and moving it to the political center.

Realizing the welfare state is a near-sacred concept in Sweden, Reinfeldt called for fine-tuning the system with small adjustments rather than dismantling it.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 23, 2006
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