Sweden’s deputy prime minister, Isabella Lovin, has published a photograph of herself signing a climate bill surrounded by her closest female colleagues, apparently mocking a photo of US president Donald Trump.
Lovin, who also serves as environment and development aid minister, is seated in the photo at a desk as she signs the bill under the watchful eye of seven female colleagues, including one who is visibly pregnant.
The picture seems to be a reference to a series of photos of Trump signing executive orders, including the reintroduction of the “global gag rule”, which were widely mocked.
The pictures were taken of Trump on January 23 in the White House, as he signed a decree barring US federal funding for foreign NGOs that support abortion, as his all-male colleagues watched.
Sweden, a pioneer in women’s rights, is known for its high level of women in the workplace, including in parliament and government.
“We are a feminist government, which shows in this photo. Ultimately it is up to the observer to interpret the photo,” Lovin said.
The climate bill she is signing in the photo aims to make Sweden carbon neutral by 2045 and “marks a new era in Swedish climate politics”, Lovin wrote.
“There is a global demand for climate leadership. I want to show that Sweden is ready to take that leadership,” she added.
Lovin urged European countries to take a leading role in tackling climate change, now “the US is not there anymore to lead”.
Lovin signs a referral of Swedish climate law, binding all future governments to net zero emissions by 2045, at the ministry in Stockholm on February 1. The bill signing was witnessed by seven female colleagues, imitating a viral photograph of Trump signing an executive order on January 23 at the White House under the watchful eye of his all-male colleagues.
