A Quarter of Swedish Politicians Face Threats in 2024, Impacting Democracy and Political Engagement

A recent survey by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) reveals that over 25% of politicians in Sweden experienced threats, harassment, violence, vandalism, or theft in 2024. This marks the seventh consecutive year Brå has highlighted such risks to political figures. The findings underscore serious concerns about the safety and well-being of elected officials and the broader repercussions for Swedish democracy.

The survey shows that women politicians face slightly higher rates of threats than men, with 27% of females affected compared to 24% of males. Particularly vulnerable are members of the Riksdag, where 65% reported being targeted, significantly higher than regional (31%) and municipal politicians (25%). Age-wise, politicians aged 30-39 had the highest victimization rate at nearly 36%, while the youngest group under 29 reported a decline in incidents compared to previous years.

Among political parties, the Green Party (Miljöpartiet) had the highest share of politicians experiencing threats for a third consecutive survey cycle, with 33% affected. Conversely, the Center Party reported the lowest rate at 20%. Sara Burnett, Miljöpartiet spokesperson in Karlstad, expressed that she is mentally preparing for increased threats during the forthcoming 2026 election campaign, though she has not yet faced any personally.

The impact of these threats is profound. Nearly half (47%) of affected politicians said the harassment influenced their political responsibilities, with women reporting a higher impact (53%) than men (42%). Alarmingly, about 25% of those targeted have contemplated resigning from their positions due to safety concerns. Per Hydén, operations manager of Agera Värmland, emphasized that these threats pose a "significant risk to democracy," highlighting the necessity for political parties, municipalities, and regions to foster safer environments for political engagement.

These findings reaffirm the challenges Swedish politicians face amid rising threats and intimidation, especially in election years, when vulnerability intensifies and some politicians reportedly hesitate to voice certain opinions. The continuous prevalence of such harassment calls for urgent collective action to protect democratic participation in Sweden.