Rising Threats Against Young Politicians Highlight Democratic Risks in Sweden
Young politicians in Sweden face increasing threats and harassment, raising concerns about democratic participation and leading to legal actions against offenders.
- • All youth political organizations in Uppsala reported threats and harassment, according to a survey.
- • Political scientist Josefina Eriksson warns that increasing threats could reduce youth political engagement.
- • Gustaf Brännström, a young politician, was attacked during a school visit in Uppsala.
- • A man from Stenungsund was convicted for threatening politician Jan Oskar Jönsson related to drag queen storytime debates.
Key details
Young politicians in Sweden are increasingly encountering threats, hate, and harassment, posing serious challenges to democratic engagement among youth. A recent survey in Uppsala revealed that all eight youth political organizations reported experiences of hostility and threats. Political science expert Josefina Eriksson from Uppsala University warned that if such attacks continue, young people's participation in politics could decline, threatening the democratic process. She remarked, "A cornerstone of democracy is political engagement, especially among the youth. If the cost becomes too high, we will see a decline in participation." An incident illustrating these dangers involved Gustaf Brännström, a young politician from the Ungsvenskarna organization, who was verbally attacked and had water thrown at him during a school visit in Uppsala.
In a related case demonstrating legal consequences of political threats, a man from Stenungsund was convicted by the Uddevalla District Court for making serious threats against politician Jan Oskar Jönsson on Twitter. The threats emerged amidst heated public debate about drag queens reading stories to children at libraries. The defendant posted ominous messages and images implying violence, which the court judged caused the politician significant fear for his safety. The man was sentenced to conditional imprisonment, fined a total of 13,200 kronor, and ordered to pay 10,000 kronor in damages to Jönsson. The court recognized that the threats were motivated by both Jönsson's political role and issues related to gender identity discrimination.
These developments emphasize the hostile environment faced by young politicians in Sweden, reflecting broader challenges to democratic participation. The increasing prevalence of threats and harassment not only impacts individual safety but also risks deterring youth political involvement. Experts like Eriksson stress that safeguarding democratic engagement requires addressing these hostile trends promptly and effectively.