European Parliament member Emma Wiesner (C) has left the platform X due to a harsh debate climate marked by hate and personal attacks. She describes how comments on appearance and threats have negatively affected her. The decision comes amid Centerpartiet leader Anna-Karin Hatt's recent resignation for similar reasons.
Emma Wiesner, Centerpartiet's youngest member in the European Parliament at age 28, announced almost a month ago that she is logging out of X. In her final post, she wrote: “It was fun while it lasted. You can reach me on other platforms and channels. Keeping the account, but logging out for now.”
In SVT's program 30 minuter, Wiesner explains that the platform has become too tough. “A great sorrow, I thought it was a fantastic medium. But it was simply too harsh a climate to be in. It doesn't make me feel good,” she says. She highlights personal attacks: “You hesitate to write what you want. You hear comments that you're ugly and fat.” As a woman in politics, she emphasizes that such comments make the environment particularly difficult.
Wiesner describes how the platform changed her: “You become harder in tone and adapt a bit to that reality. I think I became more cynical and bitter from being on X.” She sees few benefits in staying: “There's very little to gain from being in that kind of environment. Especially as a woman, hearing comments about your appearance.”
The background is the increased threat landscape against centrist politicians. Two weeks ago, Anna-Karin Hatt resigned as party leader due to threats and harassment. “It was a shock to me – a dismay,” says Wiesner. She links it to the party's centrist position: “We are in the political middle and have been very clear that we want to be independent, we haven't allied with anyone. That means you have fewer friends in politics.” Previously, Annie Lööf faced a death threat in Almedalen.
Wiesner, focusing on climate, energy, and agriculture in the Renew Europe group, is a full member of the environment committee and was the top candidate in the 2024 election.