SHOULDN'T LEADER'S LEAD?

A few days ago I complained about the lack of leadership Sweden's Prime Minister Göran Persson showed in dealing with the disaster in south east Asia. I didn't complain very loudly though, because I was still a bit numbed by the disaster itself, and also there were more important things to think about.

Now with some distance - though not enough for a full evaluation of course - my irritation has grown stronger, and so has many others'. What disturbs me most is not just the slow response, and lack of sensible action the first days after the earthquake. It is rather the lack of will to assume responsibilty and take charge. Simply, to show some leadership. The Prime Minister has not done this. Instead he has tried to silence anyone who's tried to point out what should've been done, and make sure that everyone knows that if any errors have been commited (and even he has to admit that this is the case) it is certainly not his fault. Instead he blames his foreign minister (who indeed has managed a remarkably incompetent performance) and her department, who in it's own turn blames the embassy in Bangkok (which seems to have done just what it's supposed to do).

A good leader doesn't blame the people he's responsible for. He takes the responsibility himself. A good leader doesn't wait for people to tell him what to do. He takes command and makes sure he gets the information he needs. Mr Persson has showed that he is not a good leader.

I have more thoughts on this, but since PM Nilsson has already expressed them better than I will in today's Expressen, I recommend you read his editorial instead.

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