The Local
Sweden in Focus is The Local’s weekly podcast where we discuss the big news and talking points in Sweden as well as explore and explain the issues that impact life in the country. We also answer your essential questions and look ahead at what’s coming up.
In each episode presenter James Savage chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher. They are frequently joined by other expert commentators.
Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.
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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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Interview with Scott Reisfield, Greta Garbo's great-nephew
The Local's readers have spoken! What do you make of life in Sweden as a foreigner, and what do Sweden's immigration policies mean for you?
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 government do about transitional rules for citizenship? Also, are Sweden's political parties too wedded to incremental growth? Is it time to get a lot more ambitious in the age of AI? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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: Politics Why are Swedish politicians so silent on AI? Sweden Democrat leader takes aim at Social Democrats in key speech Sweden Democrats launch retro election campaign to make 'Sweden like Sweden again' More than half of voters think Sweden's government will lose election Stay on top of the Swedish election: How to follow The Local's coverage Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 permits Swedish parliament votes to revoke residency permits over 'poor conduct' Midsummer Do I get a day off in Sweden at Midsummer? What's open and what's closed in Sweden during Midsummer? Politics Sweden tightens residency rules, but opposition's challenge delays child detention bill Closed-doors agreement on Sweden's parliamentary pairing row collapses Swedish government to push ahead with mandatory language preschool despite legal warnings Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 podcasts Sweden 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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: Politics Sweden's Left Party removes local candidates who praised terror groups Sweden and the US Opinion: Do Sweden's deportations have more parallels to the US than Swedes realise? Football How can you watch the 2026 men's football World Cup in Sweden? Immigration Swedish parliament approves bill to abolish future permanent residency for refugees Work permits When 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 Sweden June 16th session __ Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 close Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 they keep their Swedishness alive. Host Richard Orange is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Immigration Sweden's house speaker says no to emergency motion on transitional rules Sweden's government announces proposed solution for teen deportations Is the Swedish Migration Agency working overtime to fast-track citizenship cases? Politics Citizenship-scandal Sweden Democrat MP quits over child pornography probe Family The hardest part of moving to Sweden? Suddenly not understanding my own child Sweden and the US The migration crisis that divided Sweden and made it a better country Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 immigration policy spokesperson Anna Hirvonen, who has sent an emergency motion to the speaker of the Swedish parliament in a last-ditch attempt to force lawmakers to vote again on including transitional rules in Sweden’s new citizenship law for the more than 100,000 people waiting in the queue. In her conversation with The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange the increasingly high-profile Hirvonen also talks about the chokehold she believes the far-right Sweden Democrats have on Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s Moderate Party, how the immigration debate is changing after protests over teen deportations, and how she thinks the parties on the left would go about undoing some of the hardline immigration policies brought in by the current government. Swedish terms used in the interview: Utskottsinitiativ - an initiative proposed to a parliamentary committee Ventil - a "safety clause", in this case an immigration law amendment intended to bring an end to teen deportations. Kvittning - The Swedish parliament's long-standing pairing agreement on how to handle votes when members have to be absent for reasons such as illness. Händelsemotion/akutmotion - An emergency motion submitted to the parliamentary speaker, in this case aimed at forcing a revote on the inclusion of transitional rules in Sweden's new citizenship law. Det ska löna sig att arbeta - Working should pay. A Moderate Party slogan about the value of work. Skärpta krav för anhöriginvandring - A legislative proposal on tougher requirements for family reunification Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 halve the cost of a monthly card for regional public transport from July 1st until the end of the year? And we look at how end-of-term gifts to Swedish teachers have become so extravagant in some cases that a few Swedish councils have now banned the practice altogether. Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Politics Sweden Democrats aim for half of cabinet seats in a right-wing government Sweden to cut monthly public transport tickets by 50 percent in all regions Health 'Incredible' milestone reached as Sweden becomes a smoke-free country Immigration 'It's a gut punch': Time running out for 100,000 applicants as Sweden's citizenship deadline nears What Sweden's new higher salary threshold means for work permit applicants Schools Swedish municipalities (at least some) ban end-of-term gifts for teachers Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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+ Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 requirements? Around 100,000 applicants are currently waiting to become naturalised Swedes and The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren recently caught up with some of them. In this week’s episode we hear from four of the people Emma spoke to: Victoria Heisler, Sigrid Holmwood, Volodymr Rubinets, and Ffion McEvoy. READ ALSO: All The Local's coverage of new Swedish citizenship rules Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden 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+ Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 look at whether a new economic partnership between India and Sweden could help Indians wanting to move here. Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Immigration Swedish MPs quash revote on transitional citizenship rules Swedish opposition welcomes Sweden Democrat MP's apology over citizenship vote Swedish opposition promises citizenship transition rules if it wins election Sweden Democrats join U-turn on letting to-be-deported teenagers stay in Sweden Alcohol 'Stockholm is going to be like Paris or Copenhagen' Sweden Democrat leader says Systembolaget should be open on Sundays Military Sweden to buy four new frigates from France in major defence deal Sweden & India Sweden and India forge strategic partnership to double economic exchange __ This week’s episode is sponsored by SULF, the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers. SULF was instrumental recently in securing residence permit exemptions for academics and is consistently working hard to be as accessible as possible for English speakers in Sweden. So if you are a PhD student or university teacher in Sweden you’ll find SULF a great place to meet like-minded people who are fighting hard for academic freedom and the rights of researchers here. You can find out more on the English-language section of the SULF website. __ Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 veteran Mikael Odenberg, a former defence minister and former group leader for the party in parliament, thinks there could. In this interview with Richard Orange, he explains why. READ ALSO: Former defence minister accuses Sweden Democrats of 'sabotaging' citizenship vote Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Politics & law More than 1,800 lawyers warn rule of law being dismantled in Sweden Politics Sweden Democrat MP accused of threatening behaviour in parliament Immigration QUIZ: Can you pass The Local's mock Swedish citizenship test? __ This week’s episode is sponsored by SULF, the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers. SULF was instrumental recently in securing residence permit exemptions for academics and is consistently working hard to be as accessible as possible for English speakers in Sweden. So if you are a PhD student or university teacher in Sweden you’ll find SULF a great place to meet like-minded people who are fighting hard for academic freedom and the rights of researchers here. You can find out more on the English-language section of the SULF website. __ Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 reporter Mandy Pipher caught up with Åsa Holmes, the head of the Swedish Migration Agency’s citizenship unit in Gothenburg to find out how the agency is planning to assess cases after the June changes come into force. And will applicants be able to get a refund now that Sweden has moved the goal posts? READ ALSO: How will the Swedish Migration Agency handle citizenship cases after June 6th? Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sweden 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 language requirement for citizenship. And finally we look a why – if you notice a Swedish person staring at you and then looking away – they’re not necessarily being rude. Host Richard Orange is joined this week by panelists Becky Waterton and Mandy Pipher. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish citizenship 'Total deadlock': No end in sight to Sweden's parliamentary pairing chaos No decision made about transitional rules at committee meeting How will the Swedish Migration Agency handle citizenship cases after June 6th? Sweden's first citizenship test to be held on August 15th How likely is a revote on transitional rules for Swedish citizenship? Swedish habits Why that Swede glaring at you on the street might be trying to be polite __ Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in Sweden May 12th session June 16th session __ Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts Sign 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.