Sweden in Focus

This week host James Savage and regular panelist Richard Orange record the podcast from Almedalen, the annual politics fest in Visby on the Baltic island of Gotland. They are joined for a lively politics conversation by Henrik Torehammar, a political commentator for the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper. Almedalen is sometime criticised as an event for Sweden's elites, but how elitist can any event really be in what Torehammar calls a "bicycle monarchy" famed for its flat hierarchies? Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's Moderate Party is edging towards a disastrous election if polls are to be believed. Can he pull a result out of the fire at the eleventh hour? The opposition parties look poised to snatch power. But will some pretty major ideological differences act as a stumbling block for the Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson? And what issues are likely to dominate in the run-up to the September election. Immigration? Climate? Or could the rise of AI make its presence felt on the campaign trail? Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsWhy are Swedish politicians so silent on AI?Sweden Democrat leader takes aim at Social Democrats in key speechSweden Democrats launch retro election campaign to make 'Sweden like Sweden again'More than half of voters think Sweden's government will lose electionStay on top of the Swedish election: How to follow The Local's coverage 

Earlier this year the Fair Transition campaign group tried to convince Swedish decision makers to introduce transitional rules for the citizenship reforms which came into force on June 6th.Two months have now passed since the Swedish parliament voted against transitional rules by the smallest of margins after the far-right Sweden Democrats sent in two MPs who were supposed to be withheld from the vote.So what now for the campaigners fighting on behalf of the 100,000 citizenship applicants waiting in the citizenship queue? The Local’s editor Emma Löfgren caught up with the group's spokesman Patrick Gallen to find out more about Fair Transitions plans as they prepare to mount a legal challenge in Sweden's migration courts.  READ ALSO:Sweden Democrats accused of cheating to block transitional rules for citizenship

This week we talk about the Swedish culture of long summer holidays and how to make the most of them.Also: parliament has passed a law that will make it possible to revoke residence permits for “poor conduct”. Now that it has passed, will you live to regret that speeding fine?Why is the government pressing ahead with plans for mandatory ‘language preschools’ for children who don’t speak good Swedish, despite an official investigator saying that the idea was legally and practically difficult, and possibly discriminatory?And we look at how the government is finding it ever harder to get its agenda through parliament, as their plans to let 13 year olds go to jail were defeated.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Residency permitsSwedish parliament votes to revoke residency permits over 'poor conduct'MidsummerDo I get a day off in Sweden at Midsummer?What's open and what's closed in Sweden during Midsummer?PoliticsSweden tightens residency rules, but opposition's challenge delays child detention billClosed-doors agreement on Sweden's parliamentary pairing row collapsesSwedish government to push ahead with mandatory language preschool despite legal warningsGet 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. 

Also: parliament has passed a law that will make it possible to revoke residence permits for “poor conduct”. Now that it has passed, will you live to regret that speeding fine?Why is the government pressing ahead with plans for mandatory ‘language preschools’ for children who don’t speak good Swedish, despite an official investigator saying that the idea was legally and practically difficult, and possibly discriminatory?And we look at how the government is finding it ever harder to get its agenda through parliament, as their plans to let 13 year olds go to jail were defeated.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Residency permitsSwedish parliament votes to revoke residency permits over 'poor conduct'MidsummerDo I get a day off in Sweden at Midsummer?What's open and what's closed in Sweden during Midsummer?PoliticsSweden tightens residency rules, but opposition's challenge delays child detention billClosed-doors agreement on Sweden's parliamentary pairing row collapsesSwedish government to push ahead with mandatory language preschool despite legal warnings

Sweden's teen deportations have affected young people who live in Sweden and whose parents have the right to be in Sweden, but who themselves no longer meet the requirements for a residence permit.After sustained public outcry, media reporting and opposition pressure, Sweden's government announced relief measures on June 1st. These included the option for young adults who came to Sweden as dependents of their parents to no longer have to leave the country in order to apply for their own permits.Once this law comes into effect in October, it will have a big effect on young people like 19-year-old Paola Claudio.Despite having lived in Sweden with her family since she was 15 and being in full time studies at Stockholm's prestigious KTH University, she had to interrupt her studies at exam time in order to make a last minute round trip to Mexico or risk being issued with a deportation order.The Local’s Mandy Pipher caught up with Paola Claudio in April to learn more about why she ended up travelling all the way to Mexico once she learned she risked being deported from Sweden. READ ALSO:Teenager makes round-trip to Mexico to avoid being deported from Sweden 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+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Sweden's teen deportations have affected young people who live in Sweden and whose parents have the right to be in Sweden, but who themselves no longer meet the requirements for a residence permit.After sustained public outcry, media reporting and opposition pressure, Sweden's government announced relief measures on June 1st. These included the option for young adults who came to Sweden as dependents of their parents to no longer have to leave the country in order to apply for their own permits.Once this law comes into effect in October, it will have a big effect on young people like 19-year-old Paola Claudio.Despite having lived in Sweden with her family since she was 15 and being in full time studies at Stockholm's prestigious KTH University, she had to interrupt her studies at exam time in order to make a last minute round trip to Mexico or risk being issued with a deportation order.The Local’s Mandy Pipher caught up with Paola Claudio in April to learn more about why she ended up travelling all the way to Mexico once she learned she risked being deported from Sweden. READ ALSO:Teenager makes round-trip to Mexico to avoid being deported from Sweden

This week we talk about a security scandal surrounding Prime minister Ulf Kristersson.And with the men's football World Cup kicking off this week, we assess Sweden's chances. We also discuss new restrictions on permanent residency and turbulence on the left side of Swedish politics.And we have an interview with Liz Stopka from the American Swedish Institute about the history of Swedish emigration to the United States.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden's Left Party removes local candidates who praised terror groupsSweden and the USOpinion: Do Sweden's deportations have more parallels to the US than Swedes realise?FootballHow can you watch the 2026 men's football World Cup in Sweden?ImmigrationSwedish parliament approves bill to abolish future permanent residency for refugeesWork permitsWhen will Sweden next raise the work permit salary threshold?__Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A session on working in SwedenJune 16th session__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. 

Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A session on working in SwedenJune 16th session__ This week we talk about a security scandal surrounding Prime minister Ulf Kristersson.And with the men's football World Cup kicking off this week, we assess Sweden's chances. We also discuss new restrictions on permanent residency and turbulence on the left side of Swedish politics.And we have an interview with Liz Stopka from the American Swedish Institute about the history of Swedish emigration to the United States.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden's Left Party removes local candidates who praised terror groupsSweden and the USOpinion: Do Sweden's deportations have more parallels to the US than Swedes realise?FootballHow can you watch the 2026 men's football World Cup in Sweden?ImmigrationSwedish parliament approves bill to abolish future permanent residency for refugeesWork permitsWhen will Sweden next raise the work permit salary threshold?

Two popular museums in Stockholm are at risk of closure because the government agency that owns the properties is now requiring the museums, which are also run by a government agency, to pay market rents that they can’t afford.It’s currently unclear if Medelhavsmuseet and Östasiatiska museet will be able to stay open. Known in English as The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities, and the East Asian Antiquities Museum, the two city centre museums are much-loved destinations for Stockholmers and visitors alike. To learn more about their importance, The Local’s Mandy Pipher caught up recently with Ninhursag Tadaros, an Assyriologist and curator who has previously worked with the Mesopotamian collection at Medelhavsmuseet.READ ALSO:Why two iconic Stockholm museums might have to closeGet 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+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.