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+ __How are tougher immigration laws affecting Swedish companies and their ability to recruit the people they need to be able to compete internationally in a fast-changing labour market? How important are immigration rules in attracting foreign workers? And what do Swedish trade unions think about the lack of transitional rules in new citizenship legislation? In this week’s episode, The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Therese Svanström, chairperson of TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees.READ ALSO:Is Swedish media opinion on migration crackdown finally shifting?

How are tougher immigration laws affecting Swedish companies and their ability to recruit the people they need to be able to compete internationally in a fast-changing labour market? How important are immigration rules in attracting foreign workers? And what do Swedish trade unions think about the lack of transitional rules in new citizenship legislation? In this week’s episode, The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren speaks with Therese Svanström, chairperson of TCO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees. 

This week we talk about why some Swedish trade unions are pushing back against Sweden’s stricter immigration laws.Also, with Easter around the corner we look at how the holiday is celebrated in Sweden.For Membership+ subscribers we discuss the government’s plan to eject foreigners from Sweden for ‘bristande vandel’ or poor conduct.Finally, we examine the 1,000-day backlog at the Swedish Migration Agency, and ask what – if anything – is being done to shorten it.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipSwedish migration minister doesn't rule out meeting citizenship campaignersSocial Democrats join call to add transitional rules to citizenship billEasterWitches and herring: Seven traditions that reveal it's Easter in SwedenImmigration Sweden could start deporting foreigners over 'poor conduct' this summerMigration Agency Swedish Migration Agency works to cut backlog as waiting time passes 1,000 days__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 why some Swedish trade unions are pushing back against Sweden’s stricter immigration laws.Also, with Easter around the corner we look at how the holiday is celebrated in Sweden.For Membership+ subscribers we discuss the government’s plan to eject foreigners from Sweden for ‘bristande vandel’ or poor conduct.Finally, we examine the 1,000-day backlog at the Swedish Migration Agency, and ask what – if anything – is being done to shorten it.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:CitizenshipSwedish migration minister doesn't rule out meeting citizenship campaignersSocial Democrats join call to add transitional rules to citizenship billEasterWitches and herring: Seven traditions that reveal it's Easter in SwedenImmigration Sweden could start deporting foreigners over 'poor conduct' this summerMigration Agency Swedish Migration Agency works to cut backlog as waiting time passes 1,000 days

In this week’s episode we 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.READ ALSO:Does Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations?

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.