Simplify the following text for a Grade 7 native English-speaking person.
Original: Hans GÃ ran Persson ( born 20 January 1949 ) was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1996 to 2006 and the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1996 to 2007 .
Simplified: GÃ ran Persson ( born January 20 1949 ) was the Prime minister of Sweden between 1996 and 2006 .