Persson met during his prime ministerial term around the millennium shift several times with Vladimir Putin, who was then the new president, kept a low profile, and was courted by the surrounding world.
Putin was shy, difficult to get in touch with, but popular. I have been to EU summits where Italy's prime minister Berlusconi arrived an hour late and greeted from Vladimir, says Persson in connection with a stage conversation at PRO Culture in Stockholm last week.
Now, the USA and Europe are facing the real Putin, the aggressor who wants to erase Ukraine and regain land and power that disappeared when the Soviet Empire imploded.
While the USA and President Donald Trump seem to be encouraging Putin and Russian power ambitions, the EU is trying to influence the agenda through extensive rearmament. Germany has surprised the EU and the rest of the world with a plan for a multi-billion investment in defense and infrastructure, with relaxed loan rules. And Sweden is also heavily rearming its defense.
The German investment has security policy significance, but perhaps even greater economic significance for Europe and European industry, Persson assesses.
Those Responsible Are Fleeing
But he sees those responsible "fleeing" from the question of how the rearmament will be paid for.
Not everything can be solved with loans, and then we must dare to say that this is so important and central, so we who live now must also pay.
But he is generally amazed that it seems so difficult to discuss raising taxes to afford social investments.
We have somehow ended up in a situation where it is not possible to raise taxes to make important investments, and if we do not want to do so, very much of what we own collectively will fall apart.
USA Is Causing Concern
The development in the USA is worrying the former S-leader, who has turned 76 years old and is to be re-elected as chairman of Swedbank. He sees a USA that is turning its back on Europe.
This is naturally extremely alarming.
He warns that Sweden is one of the countries that has the most to lose if there is also a trade war.
Our entire development has been driven by the export industry.
Persson sees an end to what has prevailed since the Second World War, when international organizations were created to prevent war and give weaker countries a voice.
When I see the American development now, one cannot but be struck by what a total shift that has occurred in international relations, just think of calling Zelensky a dictator and three days later saying 'did I say that?' says Persson, referring to Trump's treatment of Ukraine's president in front of the world press recently.
76 years old, chairman of Swedbank, previously in, among others, Sveaskog and LKAB.
Lobbyist, entrepreneur, farmer with meat production on the farm Övre Torp in Södermanland, which he runs with his wife Anitra Steen.
Minister of Finance 1994-1996.
Party leader for The Social Democrats 1996-2007
Prime Minister 1996-2006.
