Where should Sweden’s “first lady” draw the line?

Birgitta Ed has stepped into the role of Sweden’s first first lady, and few people seem able to overlook her presence.

The outspoken priest draws attention almost automatically, some say even when she is silent. Her charisma and fearlessness have made her a prominent figure, but her way of moving between private and public life has also become political tinder.

To understand the controversy, the article argues, it is necessary to understand Ed herself. She takes up space, enters a room decisively and refuses to fade into the background. That has made her admired by some and questioned by others.

“Birgitta takes over a room,” a former colleague says. “She is someone who can provoke. She is an incredibly unusual woman. She is a little larger than life, an eccentric person. It is very difficult to remain neutral. Either you like her or you do not.”

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Birgitta takes over a room. She is someone who can provoke. She is an incredibly unusual woman. She is a little larger than life, an eccentric person. It is very difficult to remain neutral. Either you like her or you do not.