Sweden in Focus
Sweden in Focus is a weekly news podcast from The Local, an English-language news outlet covering Sweden. Each episode digs into the biggest news stories and talking points in the country, explaining how they affect everyday life there. Presenter James Savage is joined by The Local Sweden's Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher, along with other expert commentators. The show also answers listeners' essential questions about living in or moving to Sweden and looks ahead at what's coming up.
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What do foreigners in Sweden miss from home?
This week: Tortuous efforts to form a government, plans to stop teen deportations, how new rules on family reunification could make life harder for university researchers, and what do The Local’s readers miss most when living in Sweden?The four parties that claimed victory in the election are still a long way from forming a government, but there has been movement this week as they agreed to meet i
'Deportations made foreign writers ask: Do I belong in Sweden?'
Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners. Gift Blessing is only 24 years old, but has already achieved an enormous amount. He is a rapper, an author, a newspaper columnist, and a poet.He came to Sweden as a quota refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo as a young child. He broke through to public consciousness in 2021 with a bravura rap performanc
Who’ll yield first in Sweden’s political chicken race?
Magdalena Andersson was acclaimed as the winner of Sweden’s election. Four parties – adding up to a majority – said they wanted her to be prime minister, and she was charged by the speaker with forming a government. Yet on Monday she threw in the towel.The immediate pretext was the decision by the Left Party to support the re-election of speaker Andreas Norlén, a Moderate, over the Social Democrat
‘Disturbing’ waiting times irrelevant in key Swedish citizenship ruling
Not yet a member of The Local? Join now with this special offer for podcast listeners. Sweden's government tightened rules for citizenship earlier this year without transitional rules for people who had already applied. The new rules require eight years of residency instead of five for most applicants, and would-be citizens must now pass language and civics tests.The Migration Court in Malmö l
How bad is Sweden's Left Party voting scandal?
In this week's podcast: Electoral fraud allegations, complex coalition building, Candy Crush maker faces strike action, and how do Swedes say 'Digestive biscuit'?Negotiations between the centre-left parties are ongoing after they won a wafer thin majority in last week’s election.But now a voter fraud scandal involving the Left Party threatens to derail the whole process.Police are inve
'The Migration Agency told me I'd likely be denied re-entry into Sweden'
In this week’s Sweden in Focus Extra, The Local's Mandy Pipher tells us about the bureaucratic nightmare surrounding her recent trip to Canada. Living in Sweden on a residence permit can be a risky business, not least given that almost everyone who does so has strong connections to another country and needs to travel frequently.But if your residency card is in the process of being renewed whi
Did immigrants really swing Sweden's election?
This week: Final election results, far right blames immigrants for loss, and what the election outcome means for foreigners in Sweden. 200,000 foreigners who have become Swedish citizens are to blame for Sweden’s tiny swing to the left – and in particular for the losses suffered by the Sweden Democrats. That’s the claim being made by the party as it grapples with a surprise electoral re
'Sweden's Centre Party is actually in a very weak bargaining position'
All three parties in the governing coalition increased their vote share while the Sweden Democrats lost ground.On the left, meanwhile, the Social Democrats had a terrible election, while all the other parties had something to celebrate.So why did the government parties do better than expected? What went wrong for the two biggest parties on the right and left?And what is Sweden's next government li
Sweden's election is over. Now what?
In this week’s Sweden in Focus Extra our panelists try to make sense of a dizzying election night.Sweden’s election threw up some major surprises on Sunday night.The Liberals cleared the parliamentary threshold by a respectable margin having languished way beneath the four percent limit ever since the last election.The Social Democrats are seemingly on course for their worst election ever – but le
Billionaires weigh in as Sweden goes to the polls
This week: Joy for Liberals as support swells, Sweden Democrats and Left Party hit by scandals, immigration in focus in TV debate, billionaires duel over which side to back, and poor school results throw a spanner in the works. Two of Sweden’s wealthiest people, Jacob Wallenberg and Martin Lorentzon, warned in the Financial Times this week about the risks of a left-wing government. Another, R
LISTEN: What are the Sweden Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden?
Today's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with Ludvig Aspling, migration spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats. This week we are turning a spotlight on the two parties most likely to shape Sweden’s immigration policy after the September 13th election.Yesterday we heard from Ida Karkiainen, the Social Democrats’ immigration spokesperson. Today we’ll hear a conversation The
LISTEN: What are the Social Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden?
This week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with Ida Karkiainen, migration spokesperson for the Social Democrats. With the Swedish election just days away, the podcast this week features conversations The Local's Richard Orange had recently with two of the people in with a strong chance of becoming Sweden’s next migration minister: Ida Karkiainen of the Social Democrats
Sweden's election is turning into a nail-biter
This week: Right closing the gap on Sweden's left-wing opposition, party pledges explained, and could an extremist in Örebro get into the Riksdag? Oh, and fermented herring season is upon us.A poll released this week showed the Sweden's government further closing the gap on the opposition. An election that looked like a foregone conclusion is now anything but. Host James Savage is joined this
Why the Sweden Democrats refuse to rescue their Liberal allies
This week: Sweden in shock after school sword attack, Sweden Democrats say no to tactical voting, Migration Agency weighs in on Brexit deportations, and what do foreign parents find strange about Swedish schools?Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:2026 Swedish election Liberal le
'Want scientists to stay in Sweden? Don't kick them out in the first place'
For a recent article on the real-life effects of Sweden's immigration laws on families in Sweden, The Local's Mandy Pipher spoke with a Swedish-American couple who are both biological scientists and living in Uppsala.The pair met a decade ago when Anna-Karin moved to Chicago for a postdoctoral position in immunology and flu vaccine research. Chris, also a biologist, was finishing his immunology Ph
How hard is it to find a job in Sweden with a foreign name?
In this week's episode: Sweden Democrats campaign hard, Brexit deportations, citizenship tests and the "caterpillar from hell". With just over three weeks to go until Sweden’s election, the campaign is intensifying. But reaching voters is trickier than usual this year thanks to new EU limits on political advertising. This might explain an explosion of political posters, sponsored buses and cr
'I'll do everything I can to stay in Sweden because this is our home'
Gustav Magnuson and Luisa Fernandez met in Costa Rica in 2018 when Gustav was there on a cycling trip of Central and South America. The two felt such a strong and immediate connection that Gustav never made it farther south on his cycling tour. Instead, he stayed with Louisa in San Jose.A few years later the two were married and are now living in Stockholm with their one-year-old child.In an inter
Why Sweden's parties are appealing to voters' wallets
This was the week in which the Swedish election campaign started to take some kind of shape. If the focus in 2022 was all crime and immigration, this time it looks like the economy is taking centre stage. What are the big differences between the parties, and what might all this mean for how the election develops?We also look this week at revelations about spies’ activities in Sweden and we ask why
Quislings and crayfish: Sweden gears up for a crazy autumn
Sweden in Focus is back! James Savage, Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher look chew over the latest from Sweden, including:Scandal hits Sweden Democrats and Left Party Is tipping now the norm in Sweden?How do you eat a crayfish?The Sweden Democrats' Ludvig Aspling tells us why he thinks high-skilled immigrants don't care about citizenship.Articles discussed in this episode:'I feel shame and rage
What this US chef loves about Swedish food
What does an American chef notice when he transplants himself to Sweden? John Klopson, known as Lost Chef in Sweden on Instagram and TikTok, talks to James Savage of his love for Swedish bread and dairy, and asks why Swedes use so much salt. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.
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What was Greta Garbo really like?
How did Greta Gustafsson, a shop assistant born into an ordinary working family in Stockholm, transform into Greta Garbo, one of the greatest film stars of all time? And what was she really like as a person? Scott Reisfield, her great-nephew and biographer, tells James Savage that her Swedishness permeated her work and influence on Hollywood.Link: https://scottreisfield.com/ Become a member at htt
Is Sweden flunking at AI?
AI looks set to cause huge disruption to the world of work and to almost all aspects of our lives. Yet while Sweden is home to some leading AI companies, Swedish politicians are not rising to the major challenges that the technology poses, says author and AI expert Johan Falk to James Savage.Read more: Politics in Sweden: Why are Swedish politicians so silent on AI?Johan Falk's English Substack Be
Our big poll on Sweden
The Local's weekly podcast with news from Sweden. This week, James Savage, Emma Löfgren and Mandy Pipher discuss a new poll of The Local's readers on the highs and lows of living in Sweden. We also talk about what the government hopes to achieve by slashing taxes on fuel and public transport, and on an interview we did with migration minister Johan Forssell.Read more on the subjects we talk about
Almedalen bonus: 'Sweden needs more ambition'
Sweden's Nordic editor Richard Orange was in Visby this week at the Almedalen political festival. One of the many people he spoke to was Niels Paarup-Petersen, who is the migration, education and digitalisation spokesperson for the Centre Party. On a walk through the city's medieval streets they discussed the chances of the government surviving after the election. And what would a new governm
Almedalen special: Is Sweden's government toast?
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
Legal fight begins on Swedish citizenship rejections
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
What kind of bad conduct could get you kicked out of Sweden?
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 Swedi
Sweden's teen deportations – 'I was terrified I wouldn't get a visa'
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 de
Sweden's Prime Minister rocked by corruption claims
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 emigra
'Disappointing and sad': Treasured Swedish museums risk closure over rising rents
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 Antiquitie
Why this year's Swedish National Day will be bittersweet
This week we look at the government’s solution to teen deportations, and we discuss the new citizenship law coming into force on Saturday, which also happens to be National Day.We also talk about how unnerving it can be for foreigners when a young child switches to Swedish before you even properly understand it.And for Membership+ subscribers, we talk about the Swedish community in the US and how
'Sweden's next migration minister will have a big cleaning job to do'
A month ago the parties on the left were poised to win a vote on transitional rules for citizenship in the Riskdag after two independents MPs sided with the opposition. But the Sweden Democrats swung the vote in the government’s favour by getting two of their parliamentarians to breach a longstanding pairing agreement that compensates for planned absences.This week we hear from the Green Party’s i
What happens if Sweden Democrats get top jobs in next government?
This week we are delving into the sort of jobs the Sweden Democrats could get if they join the government after the election.With new rules for work permits coming in next week, we look at an unexpectedly short list of exempted professions. Is Sweden’s new status as a ‘smoke-free country’ really just be due to tobacco taxes and good public health campaigns?Why is the government proposing to h
'Devastated' – Swedish citizenship hopefuls fear for the future as deadline looms
With just two weeks left until Sweden introduces a new citizenship law, how are applicants who are stuck in the queue feeling about their chances of becoming Swedish?And what do they have to say about the government’s decision not to introduce transitional rules, meaning that they’ll be judged according to tougher new criteria, including longer residency, as well as language and knowledge requirem
How relaxed alcohol laws could spice up Sweden's nightlife
This week we ask whether moves to stop teen deportations could help those young people who have already left, as well as discussing all the latest on the citizenship voting scandal. We also look at whether proposals to liberalize Systembolaget could actually lead to real change.And why has Sweden’s new order for warships gone to France, not Sweden’s own Saab?For membership+ subscribers we loo
'A mistake to commit to a government with Sweden Democrats'
The repercussions of the Sweden Democrats' decision to defy Swedish parliamentary convention to get new citizenship rules passed without transitional rules are continuing to be felt.But what are the long-term consequences of the Sweden Democrats' willingness to break the rules governing Swedish politics? And could there be a price for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's moderate party?Moderate vetera
Why 1,800 lawyers warn rule of law is under threat in Sweden
This week we discuss the talk about whether the rule of law is threatened in Sweden, as many lawyers are now arguing. We also ask why things got heated in the Riksdag this week.Why are some museums saying they’re being forced out of Stockholm?And we finish up with a tricky quiz on Swedish society. Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Mandy Pipher.&nbs
'All applications in Sweden's citizenship queue will be assessed according to the new rules'
Sweden is introducing a stricter new citizenship law from June 6th. But there will be no transitional provisions for the 100,000 people waiting in the citizenship queue.That’s unless opposition politicians manage to force lawmakers to vote again on transitional rules after the previous vote was marred by cheating accusations at the end of last month, as The Local was first to report.Last week our
Week of chaos in Swedish politics after citizenship vote scandal
This week we discuss the aftershock from last week’s parliamentary vote on stricter citizenship rules.We’ve got an interview with Åsa Holmes from the Migration Agency on how the new rules will be applied — and what it means for people already in the system.We also look at the new civics test for citizenship.For Membership+ subscribers, we look at the TISUS exam — which now counts towards the langu
'Swedes are realising we need people from other countries to do jobs'
Public opinion in Sweden is increasingly at odds with the government's restrictive immigration policies, a new survey has found.The study, commissioned by non-profit organisation Globeknot and carried out by Novus, found that 81 per cent of respondents thought that foreigners who follow the law and support themselves should be allowed to stay in Sweden.The Local's Richard Orange caught up with Glo
How Sweden’s dramatic citizenship law deadline day unfolded
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 spend most
'Still a mystery' how Sweden's left can end in-fighting to rule together
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 me
Why most high-skilled workers say they're happy 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 look at
'Sweden is no longer good at protecting the interests of its international residents'
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 me
Why Sweden is shutting off pathways to permanent residency
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‘It’s wrong for the Swedish state to decide who companies should employ’
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 me
Why does Ulf Kristersson want to put Sweden Democrats in charge of immigration?
This week we ask whether the new deal between Ulf Kristersson and Jimmie Åkesson is a capitulation or a masterstroke by the prime minister. And what a Sweden Democrat migration minister might mean.We look at what it's really like inside one of Sweden’s deportation centres – and why being articulate might lead to you getting forced onto a deportation flight earlier than you’d like.And we examine ho
Sweden's immigration overhaul 'erodes trust in government institutions'
Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in SwedenApril 16th sessionMay 12th sessionJune 16th sessionGet 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
How serious is Sweden's democratic decline?
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'We worry that migration rules are making Sweden more unattractive'
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How to celebrate Easter in Sweden, and unions press government on immigration clampdown
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
'Politicians knew teens would be kicked out – the surprise was the reaction'
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Crunch time for Sweden's new citizenship law
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Why the Liberals abandoned their opposition to Sweden Democrats in government
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What does Sweden's deportation climbdown mean for immigrants?
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Stricter immigration 'will make Sweden less attractive' for game workers
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How is Sweden reacting to US and Israeli attacks on Iran?
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 ta
'Sweden is setting itself up for a losing battle' on skilled immigration
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
Why a legal watchdog slammed Sweden's citizenship plan
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
Sweden's teen deportations: 'It feels like they wanted him to turn 18 so they could reject him'
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Deportation order for 8-month-old baby shocks Sweden
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Parents lash out at Sweden's 'absurd' teen deportations
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Why high-skilled workers feel betrayed by Sweden
This week we have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local, mainly because the new rules will even apply to people who have been waiting years for their applications to be processed.For Membership+ subscribers we also look at the latest on teen deportations
The battle to end Sweden's teen deportations
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What's in the new immigration laws Sweden is rushing to pass?
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Why revoking Swedish residency is 'obviously' illegal
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How important is US trade and will Sweden join the euro?
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+ __In this week's episod
'I'm in complete confusion': Indian entrepreneur faces threat of expulsion from Sweden
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Will Sweden backtrack on worker deportations as media pressure mounts?
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Swedish minister: 'EU needs to step up on defence'
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Why did Sweden greenlight so few new citizenships in 2025?
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'People who have done everything by the book are being kicked out of Sweden'
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Will street protests stop Sweden deporting foreign workers?
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‘I love Sweden but the anti-immigrant rhetoric must stop’
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 rhe
Sweden in Focus end of year quiz 2025
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
Why Sweden's Moderates are sending mixed messages on work permit immigration
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
Sweden in 2026: Will immigration be a big election issue?
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 t
How can Sweden get better at integrating immigrants?
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
'I hate to be stereotypical but the light in northern Sweden is amazing'
In this week’s episode of Sweden in Focus Extra, we hear from the Umeå-based Canadian writer. Mandy Pipher about what it's been like moving to Umeå in northern Sweden. Mandy wrote recently in an article for The Local about the ignorance and prejudices people from Norrland often face about a region that makes up more than half of Sweden’s surface area. We wanted to catch up with her to fi
Popular Lucia songs, and why does northern Sweden face so much prejudice?
In this week's episode we talk about why northern Sweden doesn’t get the recognition it deserves from southerners, and we prepare for the annual Lucia festivities by getting to know some of the most common songs that are sung to mark the day.For membership+ subscribers we find out why Swedish publishers have reported Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to the police.Finally we examine how new Swedish
