Youngest Members of Parliament Hanna Lindqvist and Denice Westerberg about their paths to politics

Hanna Lindqvist, 22, and Denice Westerberg, 24, are the youngest of the regular members of the new Riksdag.

- With this you only emphasize even more that you are young, smiles Denice Westerberg (SD), and gets rid of an empty energy drink can inside the Riksdag's premises.

Even though she is new to the job, she feels at home here. For two years, she has worked full-time as the chairman of the Young Swedes at the Sweden Democrats' office, a position she will keep.

Hanna Lindqvist has also approached the Riksdag seat as a representative of her youth association, Grön Ungdom. But there the similarities between them end.

They are ideological opponents and do not want to see each other's party in a government. Hanna Lindqvist tells us that it was the success of Denice Westerberg's party in the 2010s that sparked her political involvement.

- After SD's success in the 2018 election, when I was 14 years old, I could no longer sit and watch. I felt, 'No, I'm not okay with this,'" she says.

In the background were the many discussions the family had around the dinner table at home in Ängelholm. Discussions about values, the climate, equality and justice, she says.

The commitment led her to Grön Ungdom, from Ängelholm to studies in Lund and now, eight years later, to Stockholm - as the Green Party's representative for the electoral district of Skåne county south.

- It is a very special feeling to know that every room I enter here I will basically be the youngest in, says Hanna Lindqvist.

Denice Westerberg's political commitment did not arise around the dinner table. She describes the person she was before she got involved in Ungsvenskarna as "politically uninterested".

- I think perhaps that many members of the Riksdag are politically geeky from the start. But for me, a feeling came out that 'we can't have it this way', she says.

As a 16-year-old, she opened her eyes to criminal policy. She reads news about violent and sexual crimes and becomes critical of the punishments, which she doesn't think are harsh enough.

- I felt more and more insecure. In the evenings, my girlfriends and I didn't feel like we could move freely between each other.

The young Denice Westerberg gets angry at society and out of anger comes commitment. When she starts checking out political parties, she thinks the Sweden Democrats suit her best, and joins the Young Swedes.

Through a year as a journalist at Riks, the path with the Ungsvenskarna leads her to the federal board and on to the post of chairman and now, into the Riksdag.

She thinks that "the old parties" have destroyed society, and as a newly elected Member of Parliament, she wants to push for Sweden to return to "what it once was".

What do you want to go back to? The time when you were little?

- Well, this is something that has been broken down for a long time. When my parents were young, they didn't have to feel worried about being, for example, robbed of humiliation or being afraid of being exposed to Swedish hostility.

So it's more of a feeling or mentality you want to get back to?

- Yes, absolutely. Today we miss the Swedish community that we were quite unique in having.

Both Denice Westerberg and Hanna Lindqvist feel that the transition from youth association to parliament will take place without growing pains.

However, the criticism that as a young politician lacks sufficient experience to represent the people has not been long in coming, says Hanna Lindqvist.

- I can understand that attitude. But, on the other hand, I have experiences that few in the Riksdag have. For example, it wasn't long ago when I was in high school, since I was a student. I know how difficult it is to find housing, how difficult it is when prices increase, she says.

For her, it is important to be a "bridge" between young people and politics, she says.

Why do young voters need to be represented by young members of parliament?

- Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. But, I think it's easier for me who has the experience close at hand.

Denice Westerberg also does not think that young people's lack of experience is a good argument against them being members of the Riksdag.

She thinks it is good to have an age range in the plenary hall.

- Then I think this will be a tiring debate. There are politicians who sat in the Riksdag for a very long time who did not achieve anything good, but who broke Sweden down. Depending on how you look at it, I may not have an impressive resume, but is it an impressive resume?

- At the same time, as a young person, it is important to be humble and listen to experts and colleagues, she adds.