Increasing levels of hate, harassment, and targeted threats are pushing many women out of public life in Sweden. Female politicians are reporting unprecedented pressure, with the Swedish Gender Equality Agency warning that this escalating hostility is a “big threat to democracy.” The climate has become so toxic that more women are censoring themselves, stepping back from leadership roles, or abandoning politics altogether.
The issue gained national attention in October 2025 when Anna-Karin Hatt resigned as leader of the Centre party after only five months, citing relentless threats that eroded her sense of safety. Her words captured how deeply this environment affects those in office. “To constantly feel like you need to look over your shoulder and [to] not feel completely safe, not even at home … I am affected by it much more deeply than I thought I would [be],” she said at the time. Her departure followed the earlier conviction of a man who murdered psychiatry coordinator Ing-Marie Wieselgren and plotted to kill then Centre party leader Annie Lööf during a democracy event on Gotland. Lööf expressed support for Hatt’s decision, adding, “I also understand the reality she describes … I know how it feels.”
Public figures and researchers in Sweden say the political atmosphere has grown increasingly hostile and polarised in recent years. They report that this shift is influencing public debate and even shaping legislation, as more people hold back from expressing views out of fear.
Why are women feeling less safe in politics?
Line Säll, head of analysis and follow-up at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, said the current climate is “scaring away a lot of groups” and causing many women to “think twice” about engaging politically. She explained that this trend is undermining national goals aimed at ensuring women have equal power and influence in society. Säll added that younger women in particular feel “enormous vulnerability” in public roles, affecting both their work and personal lives. “It’s a very big threat against democracy,” she said. Many eventually quit their positions altogether, contributing to a growing number of young women stepping away from local politics.
What do recent statistics reveal about the situation?
Despite Sweden’s reputation as a global leader in gender equality and its constitutional protections for freedom of expression, recent data paints a different picture. The 2025 politicians’ security survey by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention found that 26.3 per cent of female elected officials experienced threats or harassment last year because of their roles. For men, the figure was 23.6 per cent. Feelings of vulnerability showed an even wider gap, with 32.7 per cent of women reporting such feelings compared to 24 per cent of men. Politicians from a foreign background, regardless of gender, reported high vulnerability levels at 31.5 per cent, significantly above the 24.1 per cent reported by those of Swedish background.
The rising hostility is reshaping Sweden’s political landscape, putting pressure on democratic participation and challenging the country’s long-standing commitment to gender equality.
By Modester Nasimiyu