The news that Equality and Employment Minister Paulina Brandberg has a phobia of bananas has attracted attention not only in Sweden, but internationally.
Brandberg’s phobia is so strong that precautions must be taken when she goes to meetings. For example, Riksdag President Andreas Norlén emphasized that “there must be no traces of bananas” when he recently called a meeting.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasizes that Brandberg’s phobia of bananas in no way affects the government’s work.
Internationally, the case has been picked up by Politico in the US, which writes that “this is bananas”.
Kristersson says he gets upset when a hard-working minister is almost reduced to a phobia, and people make fun of it.
– I have all the respect for people who have such phobias, he says.
Brandberg is not alone in having a phobia of bananas. Also Teresa Carvalho, the Social Democrats’ legal policy spokesperson, says she has the same irrational feelings when it comes to bananas.
– We have had many tough battles over working life rights. But in this matter we stand together against a common enemy, she writes.
Read comment: Trond Giske is on his way back to the Storting. But at what cost?
Read also: – The differences within many classrooms have grown larger over time (+)
Read also: Clear message to parents: – Social control behind pink icing (+)