Sweden in Focus

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and James Savage, who provide updates on the state of play from work permit applicants ahead of an interview by Richard Orange with Hanna Geurtsen, the deputy head of the Migration Agency's new 'special focus area' for work permits. Tune in as they discuss the impact of the new salary requirement for work permits in Sweden, why the agency now prioritises applicants for highly skilled jobs, and the broader implications of recent political reforms for the migration agency and work permit applicants. READ ALSO:'Bewildering': Foreigners in Sweden explain impact of work permit salary hike Swedish Migration Agency: We've benefited from 'clear priority on highly skilled workers' Swedish Migration Agency launches new system for handling work permits Sweden in Focus Extra is a podcast for The Local's Membership+ subscribers. Follow the relevant links below to get full access. 

In this week's episode: We chat to Americans about the US election result and how it will affect Sweden, Riksbank slashes key interest rate, reactions to the guilty verdict delivered to the far-right leader Rasmus Paludan for hate speech.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local Sweden editor Emma Löfren and publisher James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:US ElectionAmericans in Sweden mourn Democrat defeat at election vigils'I miss being with other Americans who feel the stakes as deeply as I do'Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson congratulates Trump on election winEconomySweden's Riksbank slashes rates with first 'double cut' in a decade IN FIGURES: How could lower interest rates affect your Swedish mortgage? CrimeSwedish court jails Danish extremist Rasmus Paludan for hate crimes 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+ 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 episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers: what do The Local's readers (and our panelists) think of Sweden's plans to map the values of immigrants. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.This week we dig into the results of a survey we had on The Local recently asking for our readers’ views on the Swedish government's plan to gather information on the values held by immigrants to Sweden. 'Respect our host': Your views on Sweden's plan to survey immigrants’ values 

In this week's episode: How gang crime is top of the agenda for Nordic leaders, why a politician wants to make recognizing Israel a condition of citizenship, the controversial past of India’s new ambassador, and which of Swedish universities are really world class.Host James Savage 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:Nordic Council of MinistersNordic countries vow joint crackdown on gangs and migrationIsrael and citizenshipNew Swedish citizens should have to recognise Israel, MEP demandsIndian ambassadorIndia's new ambassador to Sweden tainted by maid abuse scandalSweden's best universitiesRANKED: The best universities in Scandinavia for 2025Get 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+ 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 episode: How gang crime is top of the agenda for Nordic leaders, why a politician wants to make recognizing Israel a condition of citizenship, the controversial past of India’s new ambassador, and which of Swedish universities are really world class.Host James Savage 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:Nordic Council of MinistersNordic countries vow joint crackdown on gangs and migrationIsrael and citizenshipNew Swedish citizens should have to recognise Israel, MEP demandsIndian ambassadorIndia's new ambassador to Sweden tainted by maid abuse scandalSweden's best universitiesRANKED: The best universities in Scandinavia for 2025

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.This week we talk about Nordic biker gangs and their ties to organised crime, a topic that rose to the top of the news agenda in Sweden after it was revealed that a Swedish leader of the Comanches biker gang was a guest at the wedding of the Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson. As Jonathan Leman from the anti-racism foundation Expo reminded us in a recent episode, this was far from the first time that the far-right party had been linked to biker gangs. An investigation by the research group Acta Publica in 2022 showed, Leman said, that "connections to motorcycle gangs were found in many parties, but they were exceptionally over-represented in the Sweden Democrats." He also noted that in neighbouring Denmark the Comanches "are regarded as a hybrid between a classical motorcycle gang and an immigrant gang. They even have their own rappers and everything."So how damaging were the wedding party revelations for the Sweden Democrats? And what does the current generation of biker gangs in Sweden really look like? Make sure too to read Richard's article shining a light on Nordic biker gangs:  How 'hybrid' Nordic biker gangs are starting to replace the Hells Angels 

In this week's episode: Halloween preparations, why Sweden is seeing fewer work permit applications, how a new fiscal policy framework has divided Sweden's left-wing parties. 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:Swedish traditionsHalloween vs All Saints Day: How to celebrate in SwedenThe best places to celebrate Halloween in Sweden this yearWork permitsSwedish Migration Agency: We underestimated effect of work permit salary threshold EconomyEXPLAINED: How significant is it that Sweden is changing its fiscal target? Politics in Sweden: Have the Social Democrats just lost themselves the next election? 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+ 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 episode: Halloween preparations, why Sweden is seeing fewer work permit applications, how a new fiscal policy framework has divided Sweden's left-wing parties, inside view on Northvolt redundancies, tips for November survival, and should home owners get a fixed or variable mortgage? 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:Swedish traditionsHalloween vs All Saints Day: How to celebrate in SwedenThe best places to celebrate Halloween in Sweden this yearWork permitsSwedish Migration Agency: We underestimated effect of work permit salary threshold EconomyEXPLAINED: How significant is it that Sweden is changing its fiscal target? Politics in Sweden: Have the Social Democrats just lost themselves the next election? Northvolt'People couldn't wait': Northvolt union rep reveals fraught redundancy talks Negotiations at Northvolt complete with over 1,000 to lose their jobs PropertyWill variable or fixed rate mortgages be cheaper in Sweden next year? Which Swedish banks now have the lowest mortgage rates? WinterNovember in Sweden: How to get through the gloomiest month of the year