Alice Bah Kuhnke
{{Short description|Swedish politician (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Alice Bah Kuhnke
| honorific-suffix = MEP
| image = Alice Bah Kuhnke MEP (2024).jpg
| office = Vice-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
| term_start = 2 July 2019
| 1blankname = Co-chairs
| 1namedata = Ska Keller
Philippe Lamberts
| 1blankname1 = Serving alongside
| 1namedata1 = Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield
Bas Eickhout
Terry Reintke
Molly Scott Cato
Alyn Smith
Ernest Urtasun
| term_end =
| office2 = Member of the European Parliament
| term_start2 = 2 July 2019
| term_end2 =
| constituency2 = Sweden
| office3 = Minister for Culture and Democracy
| predecessor3 = Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth (Culture)
Birgitta Ohlsson (Democracy)
| primeminister3 = Stefan Löfven
| successor3 = Amanda Lind
| party = Green
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Malmö, Sweden
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Henrik Johnsson|1998|2002|end=divorced}}
- {{marriage|Johannes Kuhnke|2003|2023|end=divorced}}
}}
| children = 3
| website = [http://www.mp.se/om/alice-bah-kuhnke Alice Bah Kuhnke (mp)]
| term_start3 = 3 October 2014
| term_end3 = 21 January 2019
| birthname = Alice Bah
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
}}
Alice Bah Kuhnke ({{nee}} Bah; 21 December 1971) is a Swedish politician for the Green Party who is currently a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. Previously she served as the Minister of Culture and Democracy From October 2014 to January 2019. Before going into politics, she was a television presenter. She also helped found the think tank Sektor3.{{cite web|author=Cecilia Jacobsson |url=https://www.dn.se/ekonomi/nu-gar-hon-in-i-en-helt-ny-sektor/ |title=Nu går hon in i en helt ny sektor |language=sv |publisher=Dagens Nyheter |date=3 November 2008 |access-date=5 April 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.svd.se/kultur/alice-bah-kuhnke-ar-ny-kulturminister_3976865.svd|title=Alice Bah Kuhnke (MP) är ny kulturminister|work=Svenska Dagbladet|date=3 October 2014|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004184644/http://www.svd.se/kultur/alice-bah-kuhnke-ar-ny-kulturminister_3976865.svd|archive-date=4 October 2014|url-status=live|last1=Andersson|first1=Elisabet}}
She was elected Member of the European Parliament in the 2019 European Parliament election in Sweden.[https://data.val.se/val/ep2019/slutresultat/E/rike/personroster.html Final results from European Parliament elections in Sweden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921064223/https://data.val.se/val/ep2019/slutresultat/E/rike/personroster.html |date=21 September 2019}} Read 2019-05-31 (in Swedish)
Biography
Bah grew up in Horda in Jönköping, Sweden, the daughter of a Gambian father and a Swedish mother.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} She attended a track-and-field-oriented high school in Växjö and was one of the country's best female sprinters in the late 1980s, with the 200-meter dash her speciality.{{cite book |title=Sverige-bästa 1986, Svenska Friidrottsförbundets officiella friidrottsstatistik (Sweden's best 1986 – official statistics of the Swedish Athletics Federation) |year=1987 |publisher=CEWE-förlaget |language=sv}}{{cite book |title=Sverige-bästa 1988, Svenska Friidrottsförbundets officiella friidrottsstatistik (Sweden's best 1988 – official statistics of the Swedish Athletics Federation) |year=1989 |publisher=CEWE-förlaget |language=sv}}
Television career
Bah's television career began with SVT's "Disney Club" in 1992. Between 1998 and 1999, she had her own talk show at TV4{{cite web|url=http://www.varnamo.se/naringsliv/gottomplats/ambassadorer/alicebahkuhnke.4.18ff2710e077ef560800010740.html |title=Alice Bah Kuhnke - Värnamo kommun |publisher=Varnamo.se |date=9 March 2008 |access-date=5 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821122357/http://www.varnamo.se/naringsliv/gottomplats/ambassadorer/alicebahkuhnke.4.18ff2710e077ef560800010740.html |archive-date=21 August 2010 }} and many other television assignments, including the current-event show "Kalla fakta".{{cite web|url=http://miljoaktuellt.idg.se/2.1845/1.253538/alice-bah-kuhnke-studierna-gjorde-att-jag-slapp-jobba-med-tv |title=Alice Bah Kuhnke: "Studierna gjorde att jag slapp jobba med TV" |access-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006164653/http://miljoaktuellt.idg.se/2.1845/1.253538/alice-bah-kuhnke-studierna-gjorde-att-jag-slapp-jobba-med-tv |archive-date=6 October 2014}}
On 16 January 2001, She hosted the televised music festival Artister mot nazister in Globen.{{Cite web|url=https://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001546353|title=Hela Sverige : artister mot nazister | Svensk mediedatabas (SMDB)|website=smdb.kb.se|access-date=19 January 2022|archive-date=19 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119201058/https://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001546353|url-status=live}}
Private and public sector career
Alice Bah Kuhnke was Director General for the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society 2013–2014.{{Cite web|title=Alice Bah Kuhnke ny ledare för Ungdomsstyrelsen|url=https://www.dagen.se/nyheter/2013/05/23/alice-bah-kuhnke-ny-ledare-for-ungdomsstyrelsen/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Dagen|date=23 May 2013|language=sv|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118183128/https://www.dagen.se/nyheter/2013/05/23/alice-bah-kuhnke-ny-ledare-for-ungdomsstyrelsen/|url-status=live}} She also worked as General Secretary for the NGO Fairtraide Sweden (Rättvisemärkt) 2004-2007{{Cite web|title=Alice Bah sätter fart på Rättvisemärkt|url=https://kollega.se/arkiv/alice-bah-satter-fart-pa-rattvisemarkt|access-date=2022-01-12|website=kollega.se|date=29 September 2004|language=sv|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118120259/https://kollega.se/arkiv/alice-bah-satter-fart-pa-rattvisemarkt|url-status=live}} In September 2009, Bah took the position of manager of environmental quality and corporate social responsibility at ÅF.{{cite press release|url=http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/%C3%83-f-recruits-alice-bah-kuhnke-as-vp-sustainability-amp-csr--/de/Unternehmensnachrichten/20204461|title=ÅF recruits Alice Bah Kuhnke as VP Sustainability & CSR|publisher=Ad Hoc News|date=29 April 2009|access-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002400/http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/%C3%83-f-recruits-alice-bah-kuhnke-as-vp-sustainability-amp-csr--/de/Unternehmensnachrichten/20204461|archive-date=21 December 2016}} Alongside that job, she served on the board of a small{{Cite web|title=Doberman on Agency Spotter|url=https://www.agencyspotter.com/doberman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123316/https://www.agencyspotter.com/doberman|archive-date=20 December 2016|access-date=11 December 2016|website=Agency Spotter|language=en-US}} internet design firm, Doberman.{{cite web|title=Resumé: Alice Bah till Doberman|url=http://www.resume.se/nyheter/reklam/2011/09/02/alice-bah-till-doberman/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072126/http://www.resume.se/nyheter/reklam/2011/09/02/alice-bah-till-doberman/|archive-date=6 October 2014|access-date=5 October 2014}}
Political career
In 1994, Bah campaigned actively for her country to join the EU in a referendum.Charlie Duxbury (May 23, 2019), [https://www.politico.eu/article/european-election-2019-big-name-swap-national-politics-for-brussels-career/ Big names aim to swap national politics for EU career] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525083558/https://www.politico.eu/article/european-election-2019-big-name-swap-national-politics-for-brussels-career/ |date=25 May 2019}} Politico Europe. After leaving television to study political science, she headed a philanthropic fund at the Swedish insurance company Skandia.{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/sveriges-regering/kulturdepartementet/alice-bah-kuhnke/cv-alice-bah-kuhnke/ |title=Cv Alice Bah Kuhnke |website=Regeringskansliet |date=8 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501083508/http://www.regeringen.se/sveriges-regering/kulturdepartementet/alice-bah-kuhnke/cv-alice-bah-kuhnke/ |archive-date=1 May 2016}}
Bah was a member of the Swedish Church synod from 2006 until 2010,{{cite web|url=http://kyrkoval.svenskakyrkan.se/valresultat2005/Resultat/Kyrkomote.aspx?TabIndex=3|title=Val till Kyrkomöte - valresultat|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922001932/http://kyrkoval.svenskakyrkan.se/valresultat2005/Resultat/Kyrkomote.aspx?TabIndex=3|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=live}} a member of the board of the Royal Dramatic Theatre,{{cite web |url=http://dramatenbloggen1.wordpress.com/category/dramaten/ |title=Dramaten |website=Dramatens blogg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620065539/http://dramatenbloggen1.wordpress.com/category/dramaten/ |archive-date=20 June 2010 }} and Vice President of YMCA-YWCA Sweden.{{cite web|url=http://www.kfuk-kfum.se/start/356-alice-bah-kuhnke-till-kfuk-kfum |title=KFUM Sverige |publisher=kfuk-kfum.se |access-date=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131023642/http://www.kfuk-kfum.se/start/356-alice-bah-kuhnke-till-kfuk-kfum |archive-date=31 January 2016}}
On 3 October 2014, Bah was appointed Minister of Culture and Democracy in the Löfven Cabinet.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/alice-bah-kuhnke-ny-kulturminister/|title=Alice Bah Kuhnke ny kulturminister|work=Dagens Nyheter|access-date=5 October 2014|date=3 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005210017/http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/alice-bah-kuhnke-ny-kulturminister/|archive-date=5 October 2014|url-status=live}} In addition to her role in government, she served as the Green Party's representative at the European Green Party from 2016.
=Member of the European Parliament, (2019–present)=
File:Alice Bah Kuhnke - GEF - The EP Goes Green.webm/Green European Foundation.]]
In 2019, Bah stood down as minister to lead her party's list for the European elections. In parliament, she has since been serving as deputy chairwoman of the Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) group, under the leadership of co-chairs Ska Keller (2019–2022), Philippe Lamberts (2019–2024), Terry Reintke (since 2022) and Bas Eickhout (since 2024).[https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/greens-efa-group-positions-elected/ Greens/EFA group positions elected] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615194139/https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/greens-efa-group-positions-elected/ |date=15 June 2019}} Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), press release of June 12, 2019.[https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/greens-efa-group-elects-bureau Greens/EFA Group elects bureau] Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), press release of 25 June 2024. She also joined the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.
In addition to her committee assignments, Bah is a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Anti-Corruption,[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-anti-corruption.pdf Intergroup on Anti-Corruption] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215101557/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-anti-corruption.pdf |date=15 December 2022 }} European Parliament. the European Parliament Intergroup on Anti-Racism and Diversity,[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-anti-racism-diversity.pdf Intergroup on Anti-Racism and Diversity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105134745/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-anti-racism-diversity.pdf |date=5 November 2022 }} European Parliament. the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights[https://lgbti-ep.eu/who-we-are/members/ Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514185009/http://lgbti-ep.eu/who-we-are/members/ |date=14 May 2020 }} European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights. and the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.[http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/ Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831215301/http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/ |date=31 August 2019 }} European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
In January 2022, she was the Greens/EFA candidate as a new President of the European Parliament.{{Cite web|title=alice bah kuhnke kandidat talman - Bing|url=https://www.bing.com/search?q=alice+bah+kuhnke+kandidat+talman&cvid=727e4d4d66f544d6b0c531e134d872d8&aqs=edge..69i57.6578j0j1&pglt=515&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=ASTS|access-date=2022-01-12|website=www.bing.com|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118130458/https://www.bing.com/search?q=alice+bah+kuhnke+kandidat+talman&cvid=727e4d4d66f544d6b0c531e134d872d8&aqs=edge..69i57.6578j0j1&pglt=515&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=ASTS|url-status=live}} She was not elected, having garnered only 101 votes in the first round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220114IPR21012/roberta-metsola-elected-new-president-of-the-european-parliament|title=Roberta Metsola elected new President of the European Parliament | News | European Parliament|date=18 January 2022|website=www.europarl.europa.eu|access-date=18 January 2022|archive-date=19 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119000722/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220114IPR21012/roberta-metsola-elected-new-president-of-the-european-parliament|url-status=live}}
In September 2022, Bah was the recipient of the Environment and Climate Action Award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.mepawards.eu/winners-2022/|title=MEP Awards: Winners 2022|date=21 September 2022|work=The Parliament Magazine|accessdate=24 August 2023|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824101715/https://www.mepawards.eu/winners-2022/|url-status=live}} At the 2024 MEP Awards ceremony, Bah was one of twenty MEPs to be given a "Rising Star" award.{{cite news|url=https://www.mepawards.eu/rising-stars/|title=MEP Awards 2024 - The Rising Stars|date=21 March 2024|work=The Parliament Magazine|accessdate=26 March 2024|archive-date=26 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326003036/https://www.mepawards.eu/rising-stars/|url-status=live}}
Personal life
In her late teens, Bah was engaged for two years to long jump Olympic finalist and World Silver Medalist Mattias Sunneborn.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/friidrott/okanda-forlovningen-med-alice-bah-kuhnke/|title=Sunneborns okända förlovning – med Alice Bah Kuhnke|date=3 June 2018 |publisher=Expressen|access-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140954/https://www.expressen.se/sport/friidrott/okanda-forlovningen-med-alice-bah-kuhnke/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} In 1998, she married TV personality Henrik Johnsson, from whom she was divorced in 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article10384819.ab|title=Alice Bah har gift sig - med skådis|website=Aftonbladet|date=5 August 2003 |language=sv-SE|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135656/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article10384819.ab|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}} The following year, she married actor and singer Johannes Kuhnke, with whom she has three daughters.
References
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{{s-bef|before=Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Culture|years=2014–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Amanda Lind}}
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{{s-bef|before=Birgitta Ohlsson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Democracy|years=2014–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Amanda Lind}}
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{{Current EP Sweden}}{{EP Political Group Greens–EFA}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bah Kuhnke, Alice}}
Category:Swedish television journalists
Category:Swedish people of Gambian descent
Category:Ministers for culture of Sweden
Category:Green Party (Sweden) politicians
Category:Women government ministers of Sweden
Category:Women television journalists
Category:Green Party (Sweden) MEPs
Category:MEPs for Sweden 2019–2024
Category:21st-century women MEPs for Sweden
Category:21st-century Swedish women politicians