Sweden in Focus

In this week's episode we talk about growing protests over the deportation from Sweden of foreign workers and whether people taking to the streets is likely to have any impact on government policy.We also look at how Sweden is reacting to the capture of Venezuela’s president in a US military operation as well as US President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for his country to take control of Greenland.For Membership+ subscribers we highlight new laws that will impact our lives in Sweden in 2026, and we examine the state of play for the political parties at the start of election year.Finally we explain why Swedes traditionally wait until 20 days after Christmas before throwing out their Christmas trees.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpts from interviews with the Centre Party's immigration policy spokesperson Niels Paarup-Petersen and Stockholm University politics professor Jan Teorell. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration 'Sweden is my children's country': Health professionals ordered to leave after years of workDeportations spark pushback against Swedish migration reforms'Let's not kick people out of Sweden who are already contributing'Sweden's government to submit new work permit law to parliament 'in a couple of weeks'Sweden and the US'We are free': Venezuelans in Sweden split on US attackSweden in 2026LISTED: All the new laws coming into force in Sweden at the start of 202620th day of Christmas Why Swedish Christmas lasts until January 13thHow to dispose of your Christmas tree in Sweden

Instead of a news roundup Sweden in Focus this week consists of a conversation with a journalist who has contributed several articles to The Local recently charting the immigrant experience. Faisal Khan ended up in Sweden after life in Afghanistan became "unbearable" for him and his family. It was a country he knew little about but soon came to appreciate. Despite a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric he's hopeful Sweden can "correct course" and focus on finding solutions to real societal problems without seeking scapegoats. "I love everything about Sweden. I love its bad weather. I love its bad jokes, even though I don't understand most of them. My body doesn't accept the cold weather but I'm still optimistic," he says. 

Join us for an end-of-year quiz as we look back at the stories that shaped Sweden in 2025. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage. The year kicked off with revelations that Sweden's national security advisor had mislaid highly sensitive documents and ended with the country's right-wing leaders meeting in the Prime Minister's home to hatch plans for election year.But how much do our contestants remember? And can you outperform them?

In this week's episode we talk about Christmas and how to celebrate like a Swede.We also discuss why prominent Moderate Party politicians are arguing amongst themselves about the merits of government policies that are forcing immigrants with jobs to leave the country.For Membership+ subscribers we look at the economic forecast for Sweden in 2026, which will also be a useful barometer to gauge the government’s chances of securing reelection. Finally we explain why a court has called off this year’s controversial wolf hunt and why a prominent commentator is linking anti-wolf sentiment to right-wing extremism. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpt from an interview with Moderate Party youth leader Douglas Thor. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ChristmasHow to decorate your Christmas tree like a SwedeSkål! A guide to glögg, Sweden's favourite Christmas drinkWhen do you start saying Merry Christmas in Sweden?PoliticsLeader of Swedish Moderate youth wing criticises work permit reformsWhat will happen in Swedish politics during election year 2026?EconomyHow Sweden’s 2026 budget could affect your financesHow strong will the Swedish krona be in 2026?What a strong Swedish krona means for foreigners in SwedenWolvesPlanned wolf cull blocked by Swedish courtGet 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+  

In this week's episode we talk about Christmas and how to celebrate like a Swede.We also discuss why prominent Moderate Party politicians are arguing amongst themselves about the merits of government policies that are forcing immigrants with jobs to leave the country.For Membership+ subscribers we look at the economic forecast for Sweden in 2026, which will also be a useful barometer to gauge the government’s chances of securing reelection. Finally we explain why a court has called off this year’s controversial wolf hunt and why a prominent commentator is linking anti-wolf sentiment to right-wing extremism. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpt from an interview with Moderate Party youth leader Douglas Thor. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ChristmasHow to decorate your Christmas tree like a SwedeSkål! A guide to glögg, Sweden's favourite Christmas drinkWhen do you start saying Merry Christmas in Sweden?PoliticsLeader of Swedish Moderate youth wing criticises work permit reformsWhat will happen in Swedish politics during election year 2026?EconomyHow Sweden’s 2026 budget could affect your financesHow strong will the Swedish krona be in 2026?What a strong Swedish krona means for foreigners in SwedenWolvesPlanned wolf cull blocked by Swedish court

Voters in Sweden will decide next year whether to keep the current coalition government bolstered by the far-right Sweden Democrats or switch to a more left-leaning alternative.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with Jonas Hinnfors, a political science professor at Lund University, to get his predictions for the year ahead.  Can the right-wing parties claw back the percentage points they need to surpass a potential Social Democrat-led coalition in the polls? What are the topics likely to dominate the debate in 2026? Will immigration take centre stage again? Which leaders risk getting the boot, and will all current parties meet the four-percent parliamentary threshold?Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview.READ ALSO:GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Sweden's political partiesSwedish pro-government parties 'agreed on a plan' for second term in powerGet 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+ 

Voters in Sweden will decide next year whether to keep the current coalition government bolstered by the far-right Sweden Democrats or switch to a more left-leaning alternative.The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with Jonas Hinnfors, a political science professor at Lund University, to get his predictions for the year ahead.  Can the right-wing parties claw back the percentage points they need to surpass a potential Social Democrat-led coalition in the polls? What are the topics likely to dominate the debate in 2026? Will immigration take centre stage again? Which leaders risk getting the boot, and will all current parties meet the four-percent parliamentary threshold?Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview.READ ALSO:GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Sweden's political partiesSwedish pro-government parties 'agreed on a plan' for second term in power

In this week's episode we talk about why immigrants in Sweden are often lumped into categories and what needs to be done to forge real connections, and we look at what Indian readers are telling us about their relationship with Sweden.Also, after the United States released a national security strategy that sent shockwaves through Europe, we examine what commentators are saying about the potential ramifications here in Sweden.For Membership+ subscribers we discuss what it takes to get a gymnasium, or upper secondary level, qualification in Swedish.And with Princess Sofia in the news over meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, we talk through her rise to prominence from Paradise Hotel contest to Duchess of Värmland.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. The episode also features an interview with our contributor Faisal Khan. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationLONG READ: In Sweden, there are only good, bad, ugly and evil immigrantsUN slams Sweden's 'discriminatory' push to tighten citizenship rules'The cold changes people's brains': Do Indians in Sweden prefer life back home?LanguageHow to decide which Swedish language certificate is best for youRoyalsARCHIVE: How a reality TV star got a Swedish fairytale 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 we talk about why immigrants in Sweden are often lumped into categories and what needs to be done to forge real connections, and we look at what Indian readers are telling us about their relationship with Sweden.Also, after the United States released a national security strategy that sent shockwaves through Europe, we examine what commentators are saying about the potential ramifications here in Sweden.For Membership+ subscribers we discuss what it takes to get a gymnasium, or upper secondary level, qualification in Swedish.And with Princess Sofia in the news over meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, we talk through her rise to prominence from Paradise Hotel contest to Duchess of Värmland.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. The episode also features an interview with our contributor Faisal Khan. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:ImmigrationLONG READ: In Sweden, there are only good, bad, ugly and evil immigrantsUN slams Sweden's 'discriminatory' push to tighten citizenship rules'The cold changes people's brains': Do Indians in Sweden prefer life back home?LanguageHow to decide which Swedish language certificate is best for youRoyalsARCHIVE: How a reality TV star got a Swedish fairytale