[3] In addition to being Minister of Commerce and Industry, Enterprise, and Minister for Culture and Education,[4] Leif Pagrotsky has held several high-ranking posts in the Swedish Government Offices, including State Secretary for Financial Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Vice Chair of the Council of Riksbanken, Sweden's central bank.

[5] He has served as Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, as well as Head of the Division for Financial and Fiscal Affairs in the Ministry of Finance.

Prior to the referendum on Sweden joining the European Monetary Union and adopting the Euro, Pagrotsky argued against, contrary to the Prime Minister and the majority of the Social Democratic Party leadership.

At this position, he focused on the promotion of Sweden in a broad sense, including trade and investment, cultural and consular affairs.

One of his most recognized appearances was on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and a segment called “The Stockholm Syndrome.” Pagrotsky is Jewish, and has been faced with threats because of this.