A senior Swedish official who resigned after ignoring his agency's advice to take a break during the COVID-19 pandemic has been appointed to a new advisory role.
Dan Eliasson has taken up the new position of Director General of Government Offices in Sweden, authorities have confirmed to Euronews.
The official previously served as head of the Swedish Civil Protection Agency (MSB) but offered his resignation earlier this month following widespread criticism.
Eliasson had traveled to Spain's Canary Islands over Christmas to visit his daughter, despite the Swedish government's advice against foreign visits.
Although it was not against the law, Swedish citizens had expressed anger and outrage that a senior official had ignored his agency's advice. In December, the MSB had sent written messages across the country, asking Swedes not to travel abroad.
Eliasson had stated that the trip was "necessary" and of "personal importance", but later asked to leave his position after backlash from the public and other MSB officials.
"The important thing is how we as a society deal with the pandemic and that all focus is on the very important task," Eliasson said in a statement.
"MSB as an authority must have the best possible conditions to carry out its important task".
But in a statement to Euronews, a spokesperson for the Swedish Government Offices press service confirmed that Eliasson had been appointed to a new position after requesting a transfer.
"Heads of authorities have a fixed-term appointment and cannot be dismissed during a continuous employment," the statement said.
"However, they can be transferred to another job that is appointed in the same way, ie. By decision of the government."
The spokesman also confirmed that Eliasson would retain his salary and tenure during the transfer, although the Swedish government was not directly responsible for determining his new duties.
"It will generally identify the areas where it is most important to revise the legislation in order to be able to deal with crises of different nature and propose a process for the ongoing work to produce proposals for changes to the relevant regulations."
The senior official had been heavily involved in the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic in his previous position.
Sweden's parliament recently passed a new law that will give the government new temporary powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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