Sweden's no stranger to women on top

Scandinavia is known for the high number of women in politics. A full 47.3 percent of the country's parliamentary politicians are female. Nine of the current ministers in the centre-right cabinet are women - including the deputy Prime Minister.

It certainly been a central focus for a long time in Sweden to encourage women to not only take part in politics but to run for office and shape policy.

Today we see that there is a very experienced pool of women politicians who have worked their way through the ranks from local assemblies and up into the parliament and the cabinet.

The success on the statistical side that you mentioned in the introduction though should be looked at with the background knowledge of Sweden's system of proportional representation.

Unlike the small single member constituencies that are common in the British Westminster system with one candidate representing a district - in Sweden the candidates are part of a list - and as a voter you traditionally vote for a party - not an individual.

So, political parties have been able to drive the agenda and put women candidates on the party electoral lists - who are then elected on the same grounds as their male counterparts according to what percent of the vote the party receives.

Swedish politics is more able to rapidly reflect changes in social attitudes in that way. And this has been an advantage for Women moving into politics. It also seen an advantage for cultural and ethnic minorities.

Now there is one female politician that has been featured in the international press of late. And who stands out in more ways than one - Nyamko Sabuni - And she's contorversial.

Probably one of the most talked about appointments of the reinfeldt government was the choice of Nyamko Sabuni as Sweden's Ministry of Integration and Gender equality.

She is 37, and a first generation refugee to Sweden from the Congo. Her family moved here as political refugees in the early 80's.

She was known for her blunt statements on integration and immigration issues before the election. As part of the small centre right Liberal party in Sweden, she was very clear that she thought Sweden's polic of integration has failed.

As an opposition politician, Sabuni proposed that schoolgirls undergo compulsory medical examinations to check for evidence of genital mutilation.

She denounced what she called the "honor culture" of some immigrant groups, proposed outlawing arranged marriages. She has been called an islamophobe by muslim groups in Sweden especially over her proposed ban on the muslim veil for girls under the age of 15.

Now since assuming her role as minister for integration - she has toned down her statements to fit in line with government policy

Immigrant and minority groups are calling for her resignation. But Sabuni herself just last week dismissed allegations of "Islamophobia" by Muslim groups, and has vowed to defend the rights of women who are "oppressed in the name of religion."

She also stands by her basic position: that immigrants must try harder to fit in to their adopted country. And that is very much the position of her Party the liberal party - a partner in the current 4 party alliance...

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