The affair could make you smile, but not for Paulina Brandberg. The Swedish Minister for Equality between Women and Men suffers from “bananophobia”, an irrational fear of bananas which can trigger anxiety attacks, which she called “the worst phobia in the world” on X in 2020 This inconvenience could have stopped there, but the minister's phobia has become “a subject of national discussion”, as observed by the minister. Guardian et Liberation.
Several newspapers have in fact investigated the minister's requests linked to this fear. According to the Swedish newspaper The ExpressPaulina Brandberg's entourage ensures that “no trace of banana” is found in the places where she travels. The President of the Swedish Parliament, Andreas Norlén, is said to have asked if it was “sufficient if we put them away the morning of the day” of his visit before receiving it.
“A kind of allergy that moves me”
Even more drastic, security from the government courts agency came to “secure the area” before a luncheon. In an interview with Expressen, Paulina Brandberg spoke of a “kind of allergy that moves me”, before confiding that she was being followed by a psychologist for this phobia.
The government defended its Minister of Equality between Women and Men in the face of the controversy. “Just like people in general, politicians can face fears, phobias and anxiety. If it does not affect work, is it a public interest that “requires public lighting”? », Criticized the Minister of Finance, Elisabeth Svantesson on X. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he was “disturbed when a hard-working minister is almost reduced to a phobia and people don't care”.
