On September 16, 2018, it was clear. Environmentalist Leila Ali-Elmi got a seat in the Riksdag and was called the personal cruise missile with its 1467 votes.

- Nobody got the attention I got because I differ from the majority sitting in Parliament. I look different and come from a suburb, she says.

No exercises have gone through

Leila Ali-Elmi is a Swedish Somali and raised in Hjällbo in Angered. She worked in the district before crossing into Parliament. Since her entry, she has written four motions and participated in a further 14. The motions are mainly about youth issues, equality data and LGBTQ rights.

This year's motions have not yet been processed, but none of last year's 11 motions went through.

- We write the motions to hold political opinion. After all, we are in government so much of the party's program is implemented through the government. The motions are a strategic work.

Accused of clan voting

When her success became known, a leadership text was written about clan voting and ethnic voting, where Leila Ali-Elmi (MP) was lifted. And the light was quickly directed at how the MP had obtained his votes.

- Much of the criticism has been about demonizing me. It has been about clan, veil and much more. I'm not there to preach religion, I'm there to be a politician like everyone else. I don't mix religion and politics, I don't think others should.

The environmental party stands still in opinion polls

Despite the large media focus on environmental issues, the Environmental Party does not appear to be growing in the most recent opinion polls.

But for Leila Ali-Elmi, work continues.

- I will drive the Environmental Party's policy and try to implement it, that is my goal.