Sweden, long considered a progressive country, is ringing alarm bells. according to the British Guardian The Swedish government’s equality agency, the daily newspaper, says there has been an increase in “hatred, threats and harassment against female politicians”, forcing many women to censor themselves or retire from public life altogether out of fear.
A recent prominent example is the case of Swedish politician Anna-Karin Hatt. After only five months in the job, he resigned as leader of Sweden’s Center Party in October 2025. She said she has received so much hate and so many threats that she no longer feels safe, even in her own home.
In Germany, the resignations of Green Party politician Tessa Ganserer and Bundestag Vice President Ivonne Magvas of the Christian Democrats made headlines. Both stepped down after outright smear campaigns and hostility.
Europe-wide incident
Several studies indicate that women in prominent positions in other European countries are also particularly vulnerable to hate speech. For example, in the Netherlands, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sigrid Kaag, withdrew from national politics because she and her family were repeatedly threatened with violence.
Although hatred also affects men in public life, its form and extent appear to vary. Last year, HateAid, a Berlin-based nonprofit that provides counseling to victims of hate speech, and the Technical University of Munich in southern Germany organized an event. survey There are 1,114 people in public positions in the fields of politics, academic life and media.
According to the results, which the researchers said are not representative but may paint a picture of the situation, nearly a quarter of the women received threats of sexual violence such as rape – eight times more than their male colleagues (3%). Additionally, more than two-thirds of women said they had faced gender-specific violence, such as sexual discrimination and misogyny.
Death threats and stalking
Some quotes from the survey, given anonymously, give this impression: “I get calls from blocked numbers at night” (local politician); “Often, my appearance is targeted: my weight, my hairstyle” (politician); “Photos of me at events were published with calls to kill me” (journalist). Others said they were harassed by stalkers.
According to the findings, more women (66%) than men (53%) have restricted their use of social media after experiencing digital violence. They have also adjusted their tone and content, considered reducing their public appearances, or even taken a leave of absence from their political work.
In a briefing in late November 2025, the European Parliament wrote that women in EU countries are under-represented at all levels of political decision-making and in political parties. It said the reasons for this situation were complex, but one reason stood out in particular: violence against politically active women prevents many from entering politics.
Even worse for women of color
EAF Berlin, a non-profit organization that advises on diversity and equal opportunities, has also analyzed the issue, looking not only at Germany but also the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland and Slovakia. “Young women under the age of 40, women of color, and women of immigrant origin are particularly affected, as they are often subjected to not only sexism, but also racism and or hostility depending on their age. [presumed] Experience [or] Skills,” Sarah Robinson, senior expert on gender and politics at the nonprofit, told DW.
A problem from their perspective was that gender-based violence against female politicians is not independently recognized by the legal systems examined by EAF Berlin. And yet, Robinson said, an EU directive exists that, by 2027, requires “the continued implementation of preventive and protective measures for women in public life – such as politicians, journalists and human rights defenders, because they are particularly at risk.”
For example, he explained that people’s private addresses should be better protected, and there is often a lack of advice centres, especially at the local level. Hate and violence should not be accepted as “part of the work of politics,” Robinson said. “None of us should accept as normal being attacked for doing our work on behalf of society.”
This article was translated from German.