One in Four Swedish Politicians Face Threats and Violence in 2024, Raising Alarms for Democracy

A survey by the Swedish Crime Prevention Council (Brå) reveals that one in four politicians in Sweden experienced threats, violence, harassment, vandalism, or theft in 2024. This disturbing trend poses serious questions about the future of Sweden's democratic system as many politicians feel unsafe and consider leaving their posts due to these security concerns.

The survey, which gathered responses from around 13,300 elected officials across the Riksdag and municipal assemblies, showed that threats disproportionately affect members of the national parliament and female politicians. Brå researcher Anna Frenzel highlighted that 25% of those targeted contemplated resigning, suggesting a growing risk of diminished political engagement. Notably, Centrum Party leader Anna-Karin Hatt resigned citing repeated threats and harassment, lamenting, “When one cannot feel safe in their own home, it comes too close.” She is not alone; Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin reported being followed by demonstrators, and a Gothenburg local councilor received explicit death threats through email.

According to Brå, 27.7% of politicians reported that these hostile experiences negatively impacted their official duties, with women facing a higher impact. This increasing violence and intimidation campaign threaten the democratic process, with experts calling for enhanced democracy education in schools to cultivate respect for political participation and democratic values among future generations.

The growing climate of hostility underscores an urgent need to address these security challenges to protect politicians and preserve Sweden’s democratic integrity.