STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s new government on Tuesday appointed a 26-year-old as climate minister, the youngest person to lead a ministry in the teenage climate activist’s home country Greta Thunberg.
The nomination was among the cabinet members presented by the newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristerssonwho leads a right-wing coalition backed by far-right Swedish Democrats.
Romina Pourmokhtari26, was until now the head of the Liberal Party’s youth wing and is not known to have the climate as a political profile.
The young minister has in the past openly criticized Kristersson’s decision to bring his party closer to the Swedish Democrats (SD).
“Ulf Kristersson without SD – Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD – No Thanks,” she wrote in a 2020 Twitter post.
Born into a family of Iranian origin in the suburbs of Stockholm, the young woman inherited the climate and environment portfolio, and broke the previous record of 27 years for the youngest minister.
Sweden is also home to teenagers climate activist Thunberg, who started a massive global movement with millions of young people that sparked a torrent of debate about the dangers of climate change.
Sweden’s coalition government was announced on Friday after Kristersson signed a deal with his partners and nationalist, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats who pledged support for the government in return for political commitments, particularly on immigration and criminality.
During the cabinet presentation, Kristersson also announced the creation of a new post of “civil defence” minister, as the country faces tensions with Russia.
The Swedish Democrats were the big winners in the elections and became the second largest party, behind the Social Democrats, who have dominated Swedish politics since the 1930s.
The significant influence of the Swedish Democrats on the four-party deal has sparked tensions within the Liberals, whose support is also essential to Kristersson’s survival.
The nomination was among the cabinet members presented by the newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristerssonwho leads a right-wing coalition backed by far-right Swedish Democrats.
Romina Pourmokhtari26, was until now the head of the Liberal Party’s youth wing and is not known to have the climate as a political profile.
The young minister has in the past openly criticized Kristersson’s decision to bring his party closer to the Swedish Democrats (SD).
“Ulf Kristersson without SD – Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD – No Thanks,” she wrote in a 2020 Twitter post.
Born into a family of Iranian origin in the suburbs of Stockholm, the young woman inherited the climate and environment portfolio, and broke the previous record of 27 years for the youngest minister.
Sweden is also home to teenagers climate activist Thunberg, who started a massive global movement with millions of young people that sparked a torrent of debate about the dangers of climate change.
Sweden’s coalition government was announced on Friday after Kristersson signed a deal with his partners and nationalist, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats who pledged support for the government in return for political commitments, particularly on immigration and criminality.
During the cabinet presentation, Kristersson also announced the creation of a new post of “civil defence” minister, as the country faces tensions with Russia.
The Swedish Democrats were the big winners in the elections and became the second largest party, behind the Social Democrats, who have dominated Swedish politics since the 1930s.
The significant influence of the Swedish Democrats on the four-party deal has sparked tensions within the Liberals, whose support is also essential to Kristersson’s survival.
