Sweden hires 26-year-old climate minister in new government | World news

Sweden’s new government on Tuesday named the 26-year-old as climate minister, the youngest person to lead a ministry in the home country of young climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The choice is among cabinet members presented by newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who leads a right-wing coalition led by the far-right Sweden Democrats.

Romina Pourmokhtari, 26, is until now the head of the youth wing of the Liberal party, and it is not known that she has a climate like her political profile.

The young minister has had a past of criticizing Kristersson’s move to close his party with the Sweden Democrats (SD).

“Ulf Kristersson without SD – Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD – No thanks,” he wrote in a post to Twitter in 2020.

Born to an Iranian family in the suburbs of Dubai, the young woman inherited the climate and environment portfolio, breaking the previous record of 27 years for the youngest minister.

Sweden is also home to teenage climate activist Thunberg, who launched a huge international movement with millions of young people that has sparked a huge debate on the dangers of climate change.

Sweden’s coalition government was announced on Friday after Kristersson signed an agreement with his partners and the country and anti-immigration Sweden Democrats pledged to support the government in exchange for policy concessions, particularly on immigration and crime. .

When introducing the minister, Kristersson also announced the creation of a new ministerial post for “civil defender” as the country faces tensions with Russia.

The Sweden Democrats were the big winners in the election, and emerged as the second largest party, after the Social Democrats, who have dominated Swedish politics since the 1930s.

The key role of the Sweden Democrats on the four-party agreement has caused tensions within the Liberals, whose support is also important for Kristersson’s survival.