[ad_1]
Mona Sahlin has been banned from the public eye three times. 1996 from her job as deputy prime minister with the Toblerone scandal. 2011 of her job as president of the Social Democrats party after her electoral defeat. The last time this year as a national coordinator against violent extremism after issuing false certificates to her bodyguard, as well as rumors of a love story.
One round. An electoral defeat. A scandal.
Many had set foot on their backs long ago and sought another path in life. However, Sahlin is constantly returning to the spotlight. Now she’s back. Morgonstudion, Skavlan and the newspapers eagerly open the door when she writes her political memoirs for the second time: the book “Loose Power.”
READ MORE: Mona Sahlin’s Bitter Political Will
In the interviews, Sommarprat and in the book itself, Sahlin likes to reason about his behavior. On how easy it is for public figures to get addicted to the spotlight.
Of course, we already know that this is the case with the countless celebrities who hang on at all costs. Old artists are recycled in “So Much Better”. Former sports stars try their luck at “Masters of the Masters.” Even celebrities who have been “canceled” appear on their own platforms, moving wildly for attention.
And of course, why not, that’s your job. The celebrity is what gives the celebrities food at the table.
But the celebrity is not meant to be the sustenance of the politician. The task of a popularly elected politician is to represent the people and find new voters. Being famous is a shortcut. That’s why party leaders like Annie Lööf and Ebba Busch play influencers to get more votes.
But the fact that former party leaders are also moving around like fake pop stars is an even more troubling sign of what has happened to the role of the politician. I worry when Jan Björklund jumps into “Let’s Dance” on his way to work as an ambassador in Rome. Depressed when Anna-Kinberg Batra plays contests on SVT’s “Muren” instead of becoming a consultant. And sad when Mona Sahlin speaks, again, even though it means tough new interviews in the big newspapers.
READ MORE: Mona Sahlin on the book, the lies, and the farewell to politics
Party leaders are becoming more and more ordinary celebrities, but on the same merry-go-round as Magnus Uggla and Lill-Babs. And the question is whether they have so many other options. If the addiction Sahlin talks about is important. After all, the paths to follow for a high-level politician are very few if he fails to land and retain a good prestigious job within the state. Mona Sahlin is a telling example. Where should i go? Celebrity is the last thing you have after 40 years in politics and the public.
It’s sad. Call me old-fashioned, but I want our politicians, both active and old, to treat their role with greater respect than that. May they build their confidence through ideological conviction, knowledge and leadership. Not celebrity. And that they understand and have the opportunity to manage the political heritage once they have completed their mission.
What happens if the loosening between roles continues is not at all difficult to imagine. After all, the President of the United States is a former reality celebrity.
Read more from Björn Werner:
READ MORE: More cultural directors than Åsa Linderborg should talk about clicks
READ MORE: Dollar billionaires are our new demigods
READ MORE: Stop Schulman’s negative discrimination
Don’t miss out on anything from GP Kultur!
You can now receive all of our cultural news, reports, discussions and reviews as a short notice right on your phone by clicking the follow button next to the Culture label. On mobile, you will find it below the article and on the site at the top right of the article.
[ad_2]
