Sweden’s new government named a 26-year-old as climate minister on Tuesday, making her the youngest person to lead a ministry in Greta Thunberg’s home nation.
The nomination was made by newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who leads a right-wing coalition backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats.
Romina Pourmokhtari, 26, who was previously in charge of the Liberal Party’s youth section, is not well known for her support of the environment.
The young minister has already been a vocal opponent of Mr. Kristersson’s decision to bring his party closer to the Sweden Democrats (SD).
“Ulf Kristersson without SD-Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD-No thanks,” she wrote in a post to Twitter in 2020.
Born in the Stockholm suburbs to an Iranian family, the young woman inherits the climate and environment portfolios, breaking the previous record of 27 years old for the youngest minister.
Sweden is also the home of teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, who launched a massive global movement with millions of young people that has sparked a flood of debate about the dangers of climate change.
The nationalist and anti-immigration Sweden Democrats agreed to support the coalition government in exchange for policy commitments on immigration and crime. Mr. Kristersson negotiated an agreement with them.
Source: IndiaTimes
