Sweden in Focus

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now 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+ __In this week’s episode we’ll hear a conversation The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange had recently with Fredrik Kopsch, chief economist at the right-wing think tank Timbro. The interview was carried out before Sweden’s government held a press conference in which they u-turned on policies leading to the deportation of well-integrated young adults and foreign workers. This is a subject close to Kopsch’s heart. He released a book last year called Utvisad, or deported, which tackles these questions and he spoke in depth with Richard about what he thinks Sweden should be doing differently on immigration and integration, and how the government’s so-called paradigm shift on immigration has left him disillusioned with right-wing politics in Sweden. 

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now 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+ __This week we talk about the latest on Sweden’s new citizenship law as we enter a crunch period for possible amendments before it’s enacted.Also, with six months left to the election we examine the state of play after a dramatic week in Swedish politics.For Membership+ subscribers we’ take a closer look at the Tisus Swedish language test which some prospective citizens hope will be their gateway to completing the new language requirement. And we talk more generally about how to get into a Swedish university after applications opened earlier this week.Finally, we get our teeth into Sweden’s Waffle Day tradition ahead of the annual celebration of the humble våffla next week.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipMembers Q&A on Sweden's tightening of citizenship rules'Security reasons' behind lack of transitional rules for Swedish citizenshipPoliticsPolitics in Sweden: Hugging Åkesson close could be the kiss of death for LiberalsWhat's in the Liberals' 15-point deal with the Sweden Democrats?EducationSweden's language requirement to be enforced from June 6th despite test delayWhat you need to know about applying to university in SwedenSwedish traditionsWhy do Swedes always eat waffles on March 25th?

This week we talk about the latest on Sweden’s new citizenship law as we enter a crunch period for possible amendments before it’s enacted.Also, with six months left to the election we examine the state of play after a dramatic week in Swedish politics.For Membership+ subscribers we’ take a closer look at the Tisus Swedish language test which some prospective citizens hope will be their gateway to completing the new language requirement. And we talk more generally about how to get into a Swedish university after applications opened earlier this week.Finally, we get our teeth into Sweden’s Waffle Day tradition ahead of the annual celebration of the humble våffla next week.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipMembers Q&A on Sweden's tightening of citizenship rules'Security reasons' behind lack of transitional rules for Swedish citizenshipPoliticsPolitics in Sweden: Hugging Åkesson close could be the kiss of death for LiberalsWhat's in the Liberals' 15-point deal with the Sweden Democrats?EducationSweden's language requirement to be enforced from June 6th despite test delayWhat you need to know about applying to university in SwedenSwedish traditionsWhy do Swedes always eat waffles on March 25th?

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers.Sign up to Membership+ now 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+ __The smallest party in Sweden's three-party coalition government faces a battle for survival, with opinion polls consistently showing the Liberals way below the four-percent support required to enter the Riksdag. It was against this backdrop that party leader Simona Mohamsson held a joint press conference on Friday with Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the Sweden Democrat party on which the coalition is so for support. At a meeting that ended with a hug in front of press photographers, Mohamsson revealed that her party was abandoning its long-standing opposition to going into government with the far right. The Local's James Savage is our guest this week to analyse what it means for Swedish politics now that the Liberals have broken a key pledge to their voters.

The smallest party in Sweden's three-party coalition government faces a battle for survival, with opinion polls consistently showing the Liberals way below the four-percent support required to enter the Riksdag. It was against this backdrop that party leader Simona Mohamsson held a joint press conference on Friday with Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the Sweden Democrat party on which the coalition is so for support. At a meeting that ended with a hug in front of press photographers, Mohamsson revealed that her party was abandoning its long-standing opposition to going into government with the far right. The Local's James Savage is our guest this week to analyse what it means for Swedish politics now that the Liberals have broken a key pledge to their voters.

Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now 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+ __This week we talk about the government backtracking on some of its most heavily criticised immigration reforms and what it means for immigrants in Sweden.We also discuss this year’s winner of Melodifestivalen, Felicia, an artist with a colourful back story who’s set to represent Sweden at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.For Membership+ subscribers we look at why April could be a good month for your personal finances in Sweden.Finally we’ll bring you the latest on what we know about which professions are going to be exempted from increased work permit salary requirements.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration'They came to their senses': Readers react to Sweden's deportation u-turnSweden's government backs down on deportations in migration u-turnMusicSweden's Eurovision entry in hot water after Israel commentsMoneyWhy April could be a good month for your Swedish financesSwedish citizenshipREVEALED: Migration Agency readies slimmed Swedish work visa shortlist

This week we talk about the government backtracking on some of its most heavily criticised immigration reforms and what it means for immigrants in Sweden.We also discuss this year’s winner of Melodifestivalen, Felicia, an artist with a colourful back story who’s set to represent Sweden at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.For Membership+ subscribers we look at why April could be a good month for your personal finances in Sweden.Finally we’ll bring you the latest on what we know about which professions are going to be exempted from increased work permit salary requirements.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration'They came to their senses': Readers react to Sweden's deportation u-turnSweden's government backs down on deportations in migration u-turnMusicSweden's Eurovision entry in hot water after Israel commentsMoneyWhy April could be a good month for your Swedish financesSwedish citizenshipREVEALED: Migration Agency readies slimmed Swedish work visa shortlist

In this week’s episode The Local’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Johanna Nylander, acting head of the Swedish Games Industry Association. Games are one of Sweden’s biggest exports and a lot of skilled foreign workers have made their way to Sweden to work in the industry. But with the government pushing through citizenship reforms without transitional rules, does Sweden risk becoming a less attractive destination for the international workers the games industry needs?