Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode: Ascension Day holiday, Nazis storm political meeting in Stockholm, preview of interview with gardening expert John Taylor, and who is the Green Party's new joint leader? For Membership+ subscribers: Malmö braces for controversial Eurovision Song Contest, organised criminals infiltrate Swedish police force, what are the best summer festivals in Sweden? Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Emma Lögren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Ascension DayWhy is Ascension Day a public holiday in Sweden?Political violence EXPLAINED: What we know about the attack on a Swedish anti-fascist meeting Over a thousand people join protest against Stockholm attackPoliticsDreadlocked bureaucrat: Who's the Swedish Green Party's new leader? EurovisionMalmö to bring in reinforcements from Norway and Denmark ahead of Eurovision Eight unmissable free events in Malmö during Eurovision Police leaksSwedish police leaks scandal: How gang criminals got hold of sensitive information FestivalsEight festivals you shouldn't miss in Sweden this summer 

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren to discuss the how far the government has got with its plan to further increase the salary requirement for work permit holders from 80% to 100% of the median wage.The episode also features a chat Richard Orange had recently with Karin Johansson, deputy director general of the Swedish confederation of enterprise. Half of those blocked by Sweden's work permit salary threshold will be graduates

Sign up now for Membership+ and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. ___What are the main challenges for Swedish employers when recruiting internationally and how can they harness the experience of the many skilled internationals already living in Sweden?In this special live recording of the podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined on stage by Maria Fogelström Kylberg, CEO of Stockholms Akademiska Forum, Amanda Herzog, founder of Intertalents in Sweden, and Laureline Vallée, an environmental engineer from France who recently secured her first job in Sweden.The podcast was part of Talent Talks, an afternoon of discussions at the Stockholm Business Region offices on how to attract and retain foreign workers in Sweden. 

What are the main challenges for Swedish employers when recruiting internationally and how can they harness the experience of the many skilled internationals already living in Sweden?In this special live recording of the podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined on stage by Maria Fogelström Kylberg, CEO of Stockholms Akademiska Forum, Amanda Herzog, founder of Intertalents in Sweden, and Laureline Vallée, an environmental engineer from France who recently secured her first job in Sweden.The podcast was part of Talent Talks, an afternoon of discussions at the Stockholm Business Region offices on how to attract and retain foreign workers in Sweden. 

Sign up now for Membership+ and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. __In this week's Sweden in Focus Extra, we speak to Roland Sjölin from the Swedish Tenants' Association about the country's difficult rental market and how to get money back if you've been overcharged.  Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. The episode also features a chat Richard had recently with Roland Sjölin, a lawyer for Hyresgästföreningen, the Swedish Tenants Association.They discuss what you need to know if you think you’ve been overcharged by a landlord and you want to claim your money back, the rules for renting out your home if you own your own place in Sweden and, more generally, how to get your hands on a rental home in Sweden.How to get your money back if you've been paying too much rent in SwedenThe Local's rental listings

Sign up now for Membership+ and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. ___This week: how Sweden voted on new gender law, horrific murder in Stockholm suburb, former Moderate Party leader faces nepotism allegations over jobs for friends.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden votes 'yes' to lowering age for legal gender changeHow Sweden's legal gender bill has split the government ARCHIVE: Where did it all go wrong for ousted party leader Anna Kinberg Batra?CrimeStockholm shooting victim 'completely innocent' say distraught family 

This week: how Sweden voted on new gender law, horrific murder in Stockholm suburb, former Moderate Party leader faces nepotism allegations over jobs for friends, the new spring budget, plans to stop taxing most ISK accounts, and why major Swedish artists are boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden votes 'yes' to lowering age for legal gender changeHow Sweden's legal gender bill has split the government ARCHIVE: Where did it all go wrong for ousted party leader Anna Kinberg Batra?CrimeStockholm shooting victim 'completely innocent' say distraught familyMoneyHow Sweden's 2024 spring amendment budget could affect you EXPLAINED: What is a Swedish ISK account?EurovisionSwedish musicians cancel Eurovision performances over Israel's participation Malmö to bring in reinforcements from Norway and Denmark ahead of Eurovision

In this week's Sweden in Focus Extra, we speak to John Stauffer from Civil Rights Defenders to see what Sweden can do to improve the rule of law after a new report showed that the country is regressing. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by John Stauffer, legal director for the human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders. They talk about a new rule of law report (PDF) released by the Civil Liberties Union of Europe which shows Sweden regressing in multiple areas.We had the same guest on the podcast shortly after the 2022 election to talk about the Tidö agreement, a policy programme signed by the government and the Sweden Democrats that he said undermined the rule of law and democracy.Since then the government has been rolling out some of the controversial policies laid out in the agreement. This month for example will see police given the right to implement stop-and-search zones in vulnerable areas, allowing them to search people and vehicles without concrete suspicion that a crime has been committed.In this week's Sweden in Focus Extra we take a closer look at the rule of law report, why Sweden is regressing and what it can do to get back on track. ARCHIVE: 'Civil rights groups in Sweden can fight this government's repressive proposals'  

Sign up now for Membership+ and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. ___This week: Child residency permit row, Sweden regressing on rule of law, and 50 years since Abba's Waterloo win. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's James Savage and Richard Orange. As mentioned in the episode we will be recording the podcast in front of a live audience on April 24th at the offices of Stockholm Business Region as part of the Talent Talks event being held there that day.You can sign up here if you'd like to attend. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Residency permitsBoy who went viral raising 5 million for charity gets Swedish residence permitMusicHow ABBA paved the way for Swedish pop 50 years agoPoliticsARCHIVE: 'Civil rights groups in Sweden can fight this government's repressive proposals'