Female politicians in Europe quit amid rising hate and harassment

WISE NEWS PRESS / STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — DEC. 08, 2025

Female politicians across Europe are increasingly resigning from office due to intensifying hate speech and harassment campaigns, a trend experts warn poses a "major danger to democracy".

From Sweden to Germany, high-profile resignations are highlighting a systemic issue where women in public office face distinctively aggressive threats compared to their male counterparts, often involving sexual violence and stalking.

High-Profile Resignations

In Sweden, the Centre Party leader Anna-Karin Hatt resigned after only five months in office, citing intense hate and threats. This follows the shocking political murder of Ing-Marie Wieselgren three years ago, where the perpetrator also intended to target then-party leader Annie Lööf.

Similar patterns are emerging elsewhere. In the Netherlands, former Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag withdrew from national politics due to threats against her family. In Germany, Green Party member Tessa Ganserer and Bundestag Vice President Yvonne Magwas (CDU) recently stepped down, explicitly blaming systematic hate campaigns.

Gendered Violence and Digital Threats

A study by the Berlin-based association HateAid and the Technical University of Munich revealed a stark disparity in the nature of abuse. Approximately 25 percent of female politicians reported facing threats of sexual violence, compared to only about 3 percent of men.

Anonymous testimonies from the study describe late-night calls from hidden numbers and constant attacks on physical appearance. Consequently, 66 percent of women subjected to digital violence have limited their social media use, often changing their tone or withdrawing from public visibility.

Minority Women Targeted

Research by the European Academy for Women in Politics and the Economy (EAF Berlin) indicates that women under 40, women of color, and those with migration backgrounds face the most intense hostility.

Sarah Robinson, a senior expert at EAF Berlin, noted that these groups are targeted by an intersection of sexism, racism, and prejudice regarding their competence. Robinson emphasized that violence against people working for society must not be normalized and called for better protection of private addresses and stronger local support mechanisms.

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