# Maria Leissner
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{{Short description|Swedish politician (born 1956)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maria Leissner
| image = Kicking off the civil society regional dialogue on April 28 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Leissner in 2015
| birth_name = Annika Maria Leissner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|01|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [Gothenburg](/source/Gothenburg), Sweden
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Politician, diplomat
| years_active = 1981–
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| political_party = [Liberals](/source/Liberals_(Sweden))
| spouse =
| partner = Hans Holmgren (1982; died 1996)
| education = [Uppsala University](/source/Uppsala_University)
}}
'''Annika ''Maria'' Leissner''' (born 21 January 1956) is a [Swedish](/source/Sweden) politician and former party leader of the Swedish [Liberal People's Party](/source/Liberals_(Sweden)) (1995–97).[{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.ne.se/maria-leissner|encyclopedia=[Nationalencyklopedin](/source/Nationalencyklopedin)|title=Maria Leissner|accessdate=2010-05-10|language=sv}}]
==Early life==
Leissner was born on 21 January 1956 in [Gothenburg](/source/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](/source/Uppsala_University) (international economics) from 1975 to 1980.[{{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](/source/Ambassador-at-large) for Democracy. In April 2012 she was appointed Secretary-General of [Community of Democracies](/source/Community_of_Democracies).
On 5 October 2017, she took office as Stockholm-based ambassador of Sweden to [Benin](/source/Benin).[{{cite press release |url=https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2017/10/ny-ambassador-i-benin/ |publisher=[Ministry for Foreign Affairs](/source/Ministry_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Sweden)) |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](/source/The_Gambia), [Guinea](/source/Guinea), [Ivory Coast](/source/Ivory_Coast), [Senegal](/source/Senegal), and [Sierra Leone](/source/Sierra_Leone).[{{cite web |url=https://fba.se/en/areas-of-expertise/dialogue-mediation/swedish-womens-mediation-network/maria-leissner/ |publisher=[Folke Bernadotte Academy](/source/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}}]
==Personal life==
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).