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The Ministry of Social Affairs decided on Thursday the dismissal of Johan Holmsäter, which applies from Monday.
“In Sweden, as well as worldwide, overweight and obesity have increased in recent decades. The government values that a social meeting of forces is necessary to reverse development ”, writes the Ministry of Social Affairs in the directive.
Johan Holmsäter was appointed special investigator in April this year. Its mission has been to act as a national coordinator and work externally to increase general knowledge about the good effects of physical activity and to mobilize and involve relevant stakeholders.
The assignment was to end no later than March 1, 2023.
Johan Holmsäter himself says He was surprised when asked to take on the task, which he had accomplished in the past six months at eighty percent. And when notified of his firing earlier this week, he wasn’t sure at first if it was a joke.
– It was a secretary of state at the Government Offices said who announced on behalf of City Councilor Lena Hallengren that my assignment has been completed. I had never seen anyone call this way and announce something like that, I almost wanted to ask about bank identification or something like identification, Johan Holmsäter tells DN.
He is critical of both how he was informed of his dismissal and the reason for the dismissal. In an email to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Johan Holmsäter has demanded a written statement from the Minister of Social Affairs, Lena Hallengren (S), on their reasons for firing him.
– I and those of whom I have surrounded myself in this work have a unique competence and a great commitment to these issues. We have worked harder than anyone could have expected from us, it has been exciting and I have done a good job, says Johan Holmsäter.
Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren comments on the dismissal, via email from his press spokesperson. She believes that it has recently emerged that the ministry and the special investigator have different views on how the assignment should be carried out.
“We thank Johan Holmsäter for his strong commitment and his work as national coordinator, but the different opinions have sadly led us to choose to finish the task,” the email read.
Johan Holmsäter has also experienced that there have been problems in communication and working with the ministry. But he does not feel that he himself has failed in the way he does the job.
– It is an enormous amount of work that we have done. We have developed models of inspiration and success and many other things. But I have always experienced other things being yelled at, it has been an unpleasant work environment. I just wanted to make sure it was good, he says.
Can you understand if there has been a closure between your business perspective and how an authority is run?
– I think this is a communication problem. I would have liked to sit down once a month and tell Lena Hallengren that this is what it looks like and this is what we do. We have worked to produce this quickly and concretely, not floating phrases, but concrete results, says Johan Holmsäter.
In 1978, Johan Holmsäter founded the sports association Friskis och Svettis. Since then, he has also run his own company and has been a columnist for Dagens industri.
The Minister of Social Affairs salutes through his press spokesman that the government plans to complete the work that Johan Holmsäter has started, but asks to be allowed to return with the way it will be done.
Johan Holmsäter on DN Debatt: “Our sedentary life is the most dangerous pandemic”
