Sweden's Minister of Gender Equality and Employment, Paulina Brandberg (41), has made headlines due to her fear of bananas. A crisis erupted in the country when official correspondence detailing the measures taken by the ministry regarding the minister's banana phobia leaked to the national press. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO AVOID CONTACT WITH BANANASThe correspondence published in the Expressen newspaper revealed that Minister Brandberg ordered her staff to take all precautions to ensure she does not come into contact with bananas. It was also learned that an official correspondence was made to ensure there were no traces of bananas in the room before her meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament in September. ASSISTANTS CONDUCT 'BANANA CHECKS' IN ADVANCEAdditionally, it has come to light that the minister has preparations made to ensure there are no bananas in the areas she enters during events. Brandberg's assistants reportedly check for the possibility of bananas being present before the minister enters any environment, and if found, they are removed. MINISTER'S PHOBIA HAS CAUSED A STIR IN THE COUNTRYThe minister's banana phobia has ignited a debate in the country. Citizens accused the minister of burdening public staff while having a phobia that she could overcome with therapy support. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson defended the minister, stating that it is a human condition. Kristersson said that the minister's phobia does not affect government work, adding, "I have immense respect for people with different phobias." Brandberg also announced that she is receiving professional support to overcome her phobia. Minister Brandberg had previously spoken about her issue with bananas and acknowledged that it is the strangest phobia in the world.
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