Sweden in Focus

Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners. Sweden's government tightened rules for citizenship earlier this year without transitional rules for people who had already applied. The new rules require eight years of residency instead of five for most applicants, and would-be citizens must now pass language and civics tests.The Migration Court in Malmö looked very closely recently at a case in which an applicant appealed for their right to be awarded citizenship according to the old rules. But the court ruled against the citizenship applicant in a blow to people who had waited in the queue and were hoping to become Swedish citizens under the rules that were in place at the time of application. Some hope was restored however when the judge told The Local's Richard Orange that an appeal to a higher court could succeed.In this week's episode you can hear an excerpt from the interview with Judge Löndahl we well as a studio discussion about the case and what happens next.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. READ ALSO:Chief judge expects Swedish citizenship case to head to highest migration courtINTERVIEW: 'The last word has not yet been said on Swedish citizenship'

In this week's podcast: Electoral fraud allegations, complex coalition building, Candy Crush maker faces strike action, and how do Swedes say 'Digestive biscuit'?Negotiations between the centre-left parties are ongoing after they won a wafer thin majority in last week’s election.But now a voter fraud scandal involving the Left Party threatens to derail the whole process.Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the election of a Left Party Member of Parliament in the Dalarna region. What do know about the allegations so far? And could the scandal lead to a revote?Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Electoral fraud scandalSwedish Left Party leader finally speaks on election fraud allegationsSwedish Election Authority criticises ballot paper systemNewly elected MP steps aside amid Swedish electoral fraud probePoliticsEXPLAINED: What needs to happen for Sweden to get a new prime minister?Behind closed doors, Sweden's Left and Centre parties are still miles apartWorking in SwedenUPDATE: Strike threat lifted as Candy Crush maker signs collective agreementMore unions join pending strike at Swedish Candy Crush makerQ&A: Why Swedish unions are launching a strike at the games maker KingZara Larsson clip credit: Heart RadioThumbnail photo: Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar. Magnus Hjalmarson Neideman/SVD/TT

In this week’s Sweden in Focus Extra, The Local's Mandy Pipher tells us about the bureaucratic nightmare surrounding her recent trip to Canada. Living in Sweden on a residence permit can be a risky business, not least given that almost everyone who does so has strong connections to another country and needs to travel frequently.But if your residency card is in the process of being renewed while you're travelling, you risk being shut out of Sweden on your return.In this episode, host James Savage talks to podcast regular Mandy Pipher about her struggles ahead of a recent trip home to Canada.READ ALSO:OPINION: Yes, Swedish immigrants vote in their own interests – just like other voters

This week: Final election results, far right blames immigrants for loss, and what the election outcome means for foreigners in Sweden.  200,000 foreigners who have become Swedish citizens are to blame for Sweden’s tiny swing to the left – and in particular for the losses suffered by the Sweden Democrats. That’s the claim being made by the party as it grapples with a surprise electoral reverse in Sunday’s election.But is it accurate to say that immigrants won this election for the Left?Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:2026 Swedish election Kristersson resigns as PM after Sweden's centre-left opposition wins electionJimmie Åkesson reportedly plans break if Sweden Democrats enter oppositionOPINION: The misunderstood Centre Party could learn from Ebba Busch'It's tighter than I thought': How do foreigners in Sweden feel about the election?What does Sweden's unexpectedly close election result mean for foreigners?Swedish government scenarios: What happens now?Thumbnail on Spotify: Social Democrat party leader Magdalena Andersson and party secretary Tobias Baudin celebrate with supporter on election night. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

All three parties in the governing coalition increased their vote share while the Sweden Democrats lost ground.On the left, meanwhile, the Social Democrats had a terrible election, while all the other parties had something to celebrate.So why did the government parties do better than expected? What went wrong for the two biggest parties on the right and left?And what is Sweden's next government likely to look like? Nicholas Aylott, associate politics professor at Södertörn University, gives his views in a conversation with The Local's Richard Orange.  READ ALSO:Centre Party 'ready to start talks' with Social Democrats on new Swedish government

In this week’s Sweden in Focus Extra our panelists try to make sense of a dizzying election night.Sweden’s election threw up some major surprises on Sunday night.The Liberals cleared the parliamentary threshold by a respectable margin having languished way beneath the four percent limit ever since the last election.The Social Democrats are seemingly on course for their worst election ever – but leader Magdalena Andersson could still be headed for a second stint as Sweden’s prime minister.The incumbent, Ulf Kristersson, meanwhile can breathe a sigh of relief as his Moderate Party regained its position as Sweden’s second biggest party.Their rise came at the expense of the Sweden Democrats, whose vote share dropped for the first time ever in a national election.But what does it all mean for the business of forming a new government?Host James Savage is joined this week by podcast regulars Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.READ ALSO:What does Sweden's unexpectedly close election result mean for foreigners?