Why are European women forced to withdraw from politics?

Female politicians in Europe, including in Sweden and Germany, face a rising tide of threats and smear campaigns, sometimes prompting some to withdraw from politics or engage in self-censorship, raising concerns about the impact on democracy and women’s participation.

In Sweden, considered a model of progress and equality, the National Equality Authority has shown a significant rise in hatred, threats and harassment directed against female politicians.

According to a report by The Guardian newspaper, more women are withdrawing from public life or using self-censorship to protect themselves, warning of a “major danger to democracy.”

Last October, Anna-Karen Hutt, head of the Center Party, resigned after only five months in office, due to hate campaigns and constant threats.

Before that, Sweden witnessed a shocking political murder, when a 33-year-old man stabbed the municipal psychiatry coordinator, Inge-Marie Wieselgren, during a political demonstration, and intended to kill the then head of the Center Party, Anni Löf, and was convicted on charges of murder and preparation of a terrorist act.

In Germany, the resignation of Green Party politician Tessa Ganzerer and former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Yvonne Magvaas sparked widespread controversy, as both of them withdrew as a result of slander campaigns and personal hostility.

Studies show that women in senior positions in other European countries also face particular threats.

In the Netherlands, former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag was forced to withdraw from political life after she and her family received repeated threats of violence.

Although hatred also affects men, its form and extent of impact differ. The HateAid Institute, in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich, conducted a survey that included 1,114 people active in politics, media, and science, and the results showed that about a quarter of women had received threats of sexual violence such as rape, compared to only 3% among men.

More than two-thirds of affected women were also subjected to sexual violence, discrimination and gender-based hatred.

Testimonies from some female politicians, who requested to remain anonymous, included examples of harassment: “I receive phone calls at night from unknown numbers,” “My appearance, weight and hairstyle are often targeted,” and “Photos of me are posted with calls to kill me.” The majority of affected women (66%) have reduced their use of social media, compared to 53% of men, and have begun to modify their style or reduce their public appearance to protect themselves.

At the European Union level, the European Parliament confirmed in a report issued at the end of November 2025 that women are still underrepresented in political decision-making within parties, partly due to violence that discourages many women from entering the political sphere.

Analyzes indicate that younger women, women of color, and immigrant backgrounds are exposed to multiple forms of violence and discrimination due to gender, age, and ethnic background. Gender-based violence against female politicians is also not always recognized as an independent crime in domestic laws.

The European directives call for the implementation of protection measures for women in public life by 2027, including female politicians, journalists and human rights defenders, and stress the need to provide special advice and support centres, especially at the local level.

Experts also stress that violence and hatred against women should not be considered part of the “nature of politics” or acceptable in society.