Romina Pourmokhtari: Sweden's Most Influential Under 30

For the third and final time, Romina Pourmokhtari (L) tops Expressen's power list – 30 under 30. Next year, she will age out of the list, which she partly looks forward to.

– Maybe then the UN guards will stop blocking me at the door and realize that I am the minister.

Pourmokhtari also explains why she declined the offer to become party leader.

Arriving significantly late, Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, 29, enters the interview room on the tenth floor of the government offices. She apologizes, explaining that a press conference ran over time.

To the photographer, she apologizes for her shoes. She wears trendy sneakers with her floral dress but prefers to be photographed in power heels – and changes. After some persuasion, she agrees to also be photographed in the more comfortable shoes.

– Only Parisa Liljestrand (the Minister of Culture, editor's note) can wear heels all day. She's super strong, a real crossfit person, she says with a laugh.

Pourmokhtari is pleased to top Expressen's list once again. Recently, the American business magazine Forbes also placed her on their list of the most prominent people under 30, but Expressen was first.

– Of course, it makes you happy. Perhaps more so because I'm still under 30, but also because Expressen recognizes the impact I've managed to have on Swedish politics, despite being young.

Pourmokhtari shares that her age often leads to her being underestimated in political contexts. For example, she has to prove to guards that she is the minister when moving between rooms at the UN building in New York.

Being underestimated often allows me to come out strong in negotiations

She particularly notices this when entering a negotiation room as a minister, where an older president might be present.

– Many expect to know more because they are older. But I'm quite a nerdy politician; I spent my upbringing in libraries, so I know my issues. I take great pride in that, and I think politicians should read those stacks of papers, she says, adding:

– I don't know if it's a generational thing, thinking younger people just glide by on rhetoric or whatever, but being underestimated often allows me to come out strong in negotiations because I know the issues.

Pourmokhtari believes it also matters that she is a woman with an immigrant background. She notes that there are prejudices that one is mostly there as a representative for young people and immigrants, not because one is most qualified and knows the issues best.

– But the second time I meet people, that prejudice is usually gone.

Criticized Minister

As Climate Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari has often been criticized at home in Sweden. Her negotiations with the Sweden Democrats and acceptance of increasing Swedish emissions, with the plan for them to decrease in the long term, have been hard to swallow for many. She has been accused of betraying her ideals and the party's climate campaign. But she expects time to prove her right.

Working on climate issues is very rewarding, she describes.

– It's magical. It's happening right now.

She believes the time for discussing percentage goals and timelines for emissions is over. Now it's about action.

– That's passé. Now it's implementation, implementation, implementation, as they say in the international world. It's about execution, and that's exactly where you want to be, says Pourmokhtari.

Together with Minister for International Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa (M), who is also one of Pourmokhtari's close friends and was a guest at her recent wedding, she has written a letter delivered to both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several developing countries.

– It contains a list of solutions that Swedish authorities and companies can create and offer to all countries that request them.

Being a minister with this responsibility is truly a dream job for me

The desire to work on climate issues has played a significant role in Romina Pourmokhtari's decision regarding the party leadership. She was an early favorite to succeed Johan Pehrson but declined.

– Being a minister with this responsibility is truly a dream job for me. I enjoy it so much, she says.

– It's very clear that ministers who are also party leaders have a lot to manage in 24 hours. Managing their parties can easily take over, leaving less room for political reform work.

Another aspect is that Romina Pourmokhtari cannot imagine being part of a government with the Sweden Democrats if the Tidö parties are re-elected next year. If her party changes its mind, she will not be part of it, she declared to Expressen at the end of the party leadership process.

Moreover, she very much wants to have a normal life, too.

Already as a minister, she is closely watched – for example, it's harder to cheer for her AIK team in the stands or take the subway to think – for a party leader, security measures are even stricter.

So far, she believes politics is worth the personal sacrifices. She describes the mission as "a marathon, not a sprint."

Husband Keeps Order

When she delves too deeply into issues, and politics takes up most of her time, she is grateful for her husband, physiotherapist Fredrik Holwaster, whom she describes as "wonderful" and "very interested in society."

– Without my relationship, I wouldn't have the energy. He keeps me organized and reminds me to sometimes put the phone away, "let's take a walk instead."

For Romina Pourmokhtari, this is the last time on Expressen's power list. Next year she turns 30, and then she will be off the list.

Instead, she hopes her successor as Luf chairman, Anton Holmlund, will top the list in 2026.

He has previously shared how he was radicalized online in middle school but found his place and political engagement in high school.

Pourmokhtari believes his transformation from darkness to light is impressive.

– An important role model for many young boys in the same situation.