Sweden in Focus

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?

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 how Sweden’s government – and Iranians in Sweden – have been reacting to ongoing US and Israeli attacks in Iran.We also discuss increasing rumblings of discontent on the Swedish right over strict immigration policies that some feel have gone too far.For Membership+ subscribers we ask how much your personality changes when you switch to Swedish. Finally we examine if it’s possible for citizenship applicants to prove their Swedish civics knowledge before a new law comes into force in June.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Middle East crisis Politics in Sweden: Sweden needs to get off the fence on Iran – but how?What we know so far about plans to stop forcing 'track changers' to leave SwedenImmigrationLots has happened since we recorded the podcast. Here are the latest updates: Sweden's government backs down on deportations in migration u-turnSweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesAnd here are the interviews with Douglas Thor and Fredrik Kopsch: Moderate youth leader confident of solution for Sweden's teen deportationsDoes Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations?Swedish languageOPINION: Your personality changes when you speak another language, but that’s not always a bad thingSwedish citizenshipThey contribute to Swedish society: Now the government is changing the rules

This week we talk about how Sweden’s government – and Iranians in Sweden – have been reacting to ongoing US and Israeli attacks in Iran.We also discuss increasing rumblings of discontent on the Swedish right over strict immigration policies that some feel have gone too far.For Membership+ subscribers we ask how much your personality changes when you switch to Swedish. Finally we examine if it’s possible for citizenship applicants to prove their Swedish civics knowledge before a new law comes into force in June.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage.Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Middle East crisis Politics in Sweden: Sweden needs to get off the fence on Iran – but how?What we know so far about plans to stop forcing 'track changers' to leave SwedenImmigrationLots has happened since we recorded the podcast. Here are the latest updates: Sweden's government backs down on deportations in migration u-turnSweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesAnd here are the interviews with Douglas Thor and Fredrik Kopsch: Moderate youth leader confident of solution for Sweden's teen deportationsDoes Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations?Swedish languageOPINION: Your personality changes when you speak another language, but that’s not always a bad thingSwedish citizenshipThey contribute to Swedish society: Now the government is changing the rules 

This week’s episode features an interview about the lack of transitional rules in Sweden’s proposed new citizenship law.The Local’s deputy editor Becky Waterton speaks to Patrick Gallen, a spokesperson for the grassroots organisation Fair Transition. Why is the group so adamant that Sweden should not move the goalposts for citizenship applicants who applied long before the Swedish government decided to revamp the citizenship law,?And why does he believe that the lack of transition rules risks making Sweden less competitive.READ ALSO:Can this campaign group change the Swedish government's mind on citizenship?OPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'

This week’s episode features an interview about the lack of transitional rules in Sweden’s proposed new citizenship law.The Local’s deputy editor Becky Waterton speaks to Patrick Gallen, a spokesperson for the grassroots organisation Fair Transition. Why is the group so adamant that Sweden should not move the goalposts for citizenship applicants who applied long before the Swedish government decided to revamp the citizenship law,?And why does he believe that the lack of transition rules risks making Sweden less competitive.READ ALSO:Can this campaign group change the Swedish government's mind on citizenship?OPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'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+  

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 whether the recent Swedish media pushback against teen deportations is affecting how the government is approaching immigration in the last few months before the election.We also discuss heavy criticism of Sweden’s planned new citizenship law by a legal oversight body.For Membership+ subscribers we explain how Swedish birthday traditions work.Finally we ask what the government’s plan to restrict benefits for immigrants means for newcomers to the country.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:Teen deportationsThree years after The Local, Sweden wakes up to teen deportationsSwedish citizenshipOPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'Sweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesSwedish traditionsHow to survive a children's birthday party in SwedenImmigrationWhat does Sweden's plan to restrict benefits for newcomers mean for work permit holders?

This week we talk about whether the recent Swedish media pushback against teen deportations is affecting how the government is approaching immigration in the last few months before the election.We also discuss heavy criticism of Sweden’s planned new citizenship law by a legal oversight body.For Membership+ subscribers we explain how Swedish birthday traditions work.Finally we ask what the government’s plan to restrict benefits for immigrants means for newcomers to the country.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:Teen deportationsThree years after The Local, Sweden wakes up to teen deportationsSwedish citizenshipOPINION: 'Sweden's parliament should add transitional rules to the citizenship law'Sweden's Council on Legislation criticises retroactive citizenship rulesSwedish traditionsHow to survive a children's birthday party in SwedenImmigrationWhat does Sweden's plan to restrict benefits for newcomers mean for work permit holders?

In this week’s episode The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange interviews Ximena Ramos Salas and her husband Nelson Loyola about the pending deportation of their son Andres.Ximena grew up in Sweden and the family moved back from Canada in 2018 to be with her terminally ill mother in Skåne.Her son, who has severe ADHD, has dropped out of his adult education classes as a result of the stress and anxiety brought on by the decision to deport him."There's no way we're gonna send him back alone. He is fully dependent on us."READ ALSO:'If I’d known, I wouldn't have come': How Sweden's teen deportations deter skilled workersSwedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduate