Maria Leissner

Leissner was born on 21 January 1956 in Gothenburg, Sweden, the son of Pehr Leissner, a doctor, and his wife Ulla (née Hallberg), a sociologist.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/2001/0672.html |editor-last=Jönsson |editor-first=Lena |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 2001 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 2001 |year=2000 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9172850426 |id={{SELIBR|8261515}} |page=672}} She completed studies in Gothenburg and at Uppsala University (international economics) from 1975 to 1980.

Leissner was the federal secretary of the People's Party Youth League from 1981 to 1983 and its federal chairman from 1983 to 1985. In 1985, he worked as an organizational secretary for Rädda Barnen. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Liberal People's Party from 1985 to 1991 and became the party leader in 1995.

Leissner was chairman of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan from 1991 to 1995 and the Women Can Foundation (Stiftelsen Kvinnor kan) from 1993 to 1995. She served as the Swedish ambassador in Guatemala City from 2000 to 2004, with additional accreditations in Belmopan, San José (from 2001), San Salvador, and Tegucigalpa.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59837/gupea_2077_59837_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Spiegelberg |editor-first=Christina |title=Sveriges statskalender 2004 |year=2004 |publisher=Fritzes |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-38-32120-3 |id={{SELIBR|89506762}} |pages=168, 170, 172, 174-175}}

In January 2007 she was appointed Ambassador-at-large for Democracy. In April 2012 she was appointed Secretary-General of Community of Democracies.

On 5 October 2017, she took office as Stockholm-based ambassador of Sweden to Benin.{{cite press release |url=https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2017/10/ny-ambassador-i-benin/ |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs |title=Ny ambassadör i Benin |trans-title=New ambassador in Benin |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=12 December 2024 |language=sv}} Between 2017 and 2021, Leissner served as Stockholm-based ambassador not only to Benin, but also to The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.{{cite web |url=https://fba.se/en/areas-of-expertise/dialogue-mediation/swedish-womens-mediation-network/maria-leissner/ |publisher=Folke Bernadotte Academy |title=Maria Leissner |access-date=23 April 2025 |quote=She was Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea and Senegal 2017 – 2021}}

From 1982 to 1996, Leissner was in a domestic partnership with Hans Holmgren (1982–1996), the son of civil engineer Karl Olof Holmgren and Ingrid (née Stener).

• {{Lang|sv|En generösare invandrar- och flyktingpolitik}} (1988)
• Democracy promotion in a transatlantic perspective (2009)

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• [https://riksdagen.se/sv/ledamoter-partier/ledamot/maria-leissner_0351107680112 The Swedish Parliament: Maria Leissner (FP)]

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{{succession box|before=Bengt Westerberg|title=Leader of the Swedish Liberal People's Party|years=1995–1997|after=Lars Leijonborg}}

{{succession box|before =Peter Örn | title = Chairperson of the Liberal Youth of Sweden | years =1983–1985 | after =Thorbjörn Pettersson}}

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{{succession box |before=Staffan Wrigstad |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Guatemala |years=2000–2004 |after=Eivor Halkjaer}}

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{{succession box |before=Staffan Wrigstad |title=Ambassador of Sweden to El Salvador |years=2000–2004 |after=Eivor Halkjaer}}

{{succession box |before=Klas Markensten |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Costa Rica |years=2001–2004 |after=Eivor Halkjaer}}

{{succession box |before=Per Carlson |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Benin |years=2017–2021 |after=Mia Rimby}}

{{succession box |before=Per Carlson |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Guinea |years=2017–2021 |after=Mia Rimby}}

{{succession box |before=Per Carlson |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Ivory Coast |years=2018–2021 |after=Mia Rimby}}

{{succession box |before=Per Carlson |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Senegal |years=2019–2021 |after=Mia Rimby}}

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Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Gothenburg

Category:Diplomats from Gothenburg

Category:Liberals (Sweden) politicians

Category:Leaders of political parties in Sweden

Category:Women members of the Riksdag

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Guatemala

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Belize

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Costa Rica

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Honduras

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to El Salvador

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Benin

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to the Gambia

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Guinea

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Ivory Coast

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Senegal

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Sierra Leone

Category:20th-century Swedish women politicians

Category:20th-century Swedish politicians

Category:Swedish women ambassadors

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