Swedish prime minister’s wife hired as priest without open recruitment

Birgitta Ed, the wife of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, was appointed to a priest position in the Church of Sweden without an open recruitment process, Dagens Nyheter reports.

The decision was made by the Diocese of Strängnäs in October 2023 to hire a priest for an 80% position, including project management of Domkyrkoberget, an initiative to improve the meeting space for activities near the cathedral. One of those activities is the Europaskolan independent school, where Ed serves on the board.

Ed applied the day after the position was internally posted, while still working as an assistant pastor. She was the only applicant and was conditionally offered the role, pending the completion of her current duties.

Church law does not require positions to be publicly advertised, though they are typically listed on the Church of Sweden’s website. Dean Christofer Lundgren, who approved the hire, told Dagens Nyheter the need for the role arose independently of Ed.

“Since it was clear that Birgitta Ed was interested and matched our profile very well, we did not post a public advertisement,” Lundgren wrote.