In Sweden, rising hatred and threats against politicians, particularly women, pose a serious threat to democracy.
In October, the leader of the Centre Party, Anna Carin Håtten, resigned just five months into her post, citing continuous hatred and threats. Her resignation sparked solidarity among women in the party, who stated that hatred and threats are forcing political leaders to step down.
Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larson has called on social media to «take greater responsibility to stop hatred and threats». She emphasized that the government has already taken steps, including enhancing protection for elected officials, but more needs to be done to protect women, who are at greater risk than men.
According to former parliament member Amina Kakabaveh, the growing influence of social media and a «harsher and more hostile» political climate in Sweden have been key factors in the problem. She noted that within power structures, for example, in the Sweden Democrats (far-right) party, traditional values rooted in historically male-dominated culture are promoted, and the party is largely represented by men.
Although not all women politicians were targeted, «every woman who is threatened represents a democratic failure and an obstacle to gender equality that Sweden has fought for years».
A survey conducted by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention revealed that last year, 26.3% of elected women faced threats and harassment due to their positions, compared to 23.6% of men. The sense of vulnerability was even more pronounced among women, with 32.7% reporting feeling this way, compared to 24% of men.
Many politicians, especially women, avoid making statements on high-risk issues, which negatively impacts public debate and the legislative process. Researcher at Uppsala University Sandra Hakansson stated that «violence sets the boundaries for public discussions».
