Last time Göran Persson met Kjell-Olof Feldt was a few years ago at a "simple dinner" at Feldt's home.
Even though we didn't always agree, I've always liked him. He was an intellectually combative person and politics has benefited from it, says Persson to TT.
Göran Persson describes Kjell-Olof Feldt as a "great politician".
He had an extremely strong ability to convey his message both in speech and writing.
Proletarian upbringing
According to Persson, Feldt had a "good combination of an academic background and a very clear proletarian upbringing".
This made him one of social democracy's most important representatives during the 70s and 80s, he says.
Göran Persson says that Kjell-Olof Feldt was always there as a person you could relate to or talk to.
Then he left under somewhat tumultuous circumstances in 1990, in connection with the crisis, and Allan Larsson took over instead. At that time, I was a member of parliament and followed it from the inside.
Ingvar Carlsson, former Prime Minister and party leader, worked together with Kjell-Olof Feldt for 25 years and describes Feldt as one of the post-war period's most colorful politicians.
In his political endeavors, he was focused on cooperation but did not shy away from struggle when he found it necessary. It was always exciting to work together with him.
A mentor
Klas Eklund, friend and former colleague of Feldt, was part of the circle of politicians and economists who in the 1980s worked closely with Feldt and were called the Kanslihushögern.
He functioned as a mentor for my part, he says.
He drove the modernization of Sweden and the reform of economic policy. Initially with some success, but later under increasingly strong headwinds.
Current Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) writes in a comment that Feldt has made an impact on Swedish politics.
"During his time as Finance Minister, he was both pragmatic and solution-oriented."
"Great gratitude"
Inga-Britt Ahlenius, among others former Auditor General, worked many years together with Kjell-Olof Feldt. He appointed her as budget chief at the Ministry of Finance and Ahlenius describes Feldt as a great source of inspiration:
It's one of the most enjoyable and important jobs I've had, especially under the leadership of Kjell-Olof Feldt. He was smart, sharp, humorous, and fun in his leadership, and a person who knew the issues better than we who worked at the department. He had, after all, been budget chief himself.
Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson writes in a comment that Kjell-Olof Feldt has had a "decisive significance for social democracy and for Sweden, not least during the years as Finance Minister".
