Spoof video proves just how gender equal Swedes are

Want to know how women are treated in Sweden after they decide to have a baby? This video by Swedish Centre Party leader Annie Lööf gives you a few clues.

 

After leaving her post for six months to stay at home with her baby girl Ester (a move which barely raised an eyebrow among Sweden's mainstream political parties), Lööf is seen power walking back into her office to unseat her temporary replacement Anders W. Jonsson.

 

Jonsson, a former doctor in his fifties, who took over most of Lööf's duties during her maternity leave is shown chewing on an apple and flicking through magazines with this feet up ahead of his boss' arrival. He also appears to have covered up photos of Lööf – including one of her meeting President Obama, with snaps of himself.

 

But 32-year-old Lööf swiftly returns to her desk, as the spoof film blasts out dramatic film-score style music along with the words “Now. She. Is. Back.”

 

 

The video, which was made by the Centre Party and stars the politicians as themselves, was released on Friday, and swiftly attracted attention on social media.

 

“Brilliant video! Today I'm a Centre Party fan,” wrote one media commentator, Jesper Skalberg.

 

Meanwhile Niklas Svensson, lead political reporter for Swedish tabloid Expressen likened the clip to something from hit US drama House of Cards.

 

 

Lööf was quick to release a statement confirming that she had in reality been delighted with Jonsson's work during her absence.

 

“I have had an eminent substitute who I always had full confidence in, and who handled the role of deputy party leader with flying colours,” she said.

 

Commenting on her decision to take time out to spend with Ester she explained: “I decided early on, and it was not a difficult choice, that these six months were going to be a time at home for me and Ester. Meanwhile of course I did not leave the political work behind, rather I carefully followed developments.”

 

The former lawyer is at the helm of Sweden's second smallest parliamentary party, which has 19 seats and is currently in opposition.

 

Sweden has one of the world’s highest representations of women in parliament with 43.6 percent of seats taken by female politicians in the last general election in 2014. 

 

All parents are entitled to 480 days of paid leave to share, with each mother or father required to take at least 90 days from the package, otherwise this will be lost.

 

However anti-discrimination campaigners argue that despite the Nordic nation's strong reputation for equality, much more needs to be done to raise the proportion of women in top level business and academic posts, which remain largely taken up by men.

 

The Social Democrat-Green government last year told Swedish companies that they could face penalties if they didn't comply with proposed legislation designed to ensure boards of directors have a 40 percent female representation in future.