Sweden in Focus

The Local
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    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 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 rulesSwedish opposition welcomes Sweden Democrat MP's apology over citizenship voteSwedish opposition promises citizenship transition rules if it wins electionSweden Democrats join U-turn on letting to-be-deported teenagers stay in SwedenAlcohol'Stockholm is going to be like Paris or Copenhagen'Sweden Democrat leader says Systembolaget should be open on SundaysMilitarySweden to buy four new frigates from France in major defence deal Sweden & IndiaSweden 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 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.    Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  2. EPISODE 340 TRAILER

    '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 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 voteGet 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min

  3. 14 MAY

    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.  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 SwedenPolitics Sweden Democrat MP accused of threatening behaviour in parliamentImmigrationQUIZ: 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 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  4. 12 MAY

    '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 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 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min

  5. 8 MAY

    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 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 chaosNo decision made about transitional rules at committee meetingHow will the Swedish Migration Agency handle citizenship cases after June 6th?Sweden's first citizenship test to be held on August 15thHow likely is a revote on transitional rules for Swedish citizenship?Swedish habitsWhy 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 sessionJune 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. Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min

  6. 6 MAY

    '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 Globeknot's Andreas Bergh, who is also Associate Professor of Economics at Lund University, to find out more about the survey. READ ALSO: Sweden's migration crackdown 'goes beyond what most voters want'__ 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 sessionJune 16th session__ 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+  Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 min

  7. 30 APR

    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 of the episode looking at Wednesday’s controversial vote in parliament to pass stricter citizenship laws. We also talk about King Carl Gustaf’s 80th birthday celebrations, Sweden’s bonfire night and May Day celebrations. Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.  Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish citizenship voteAs it happened: Swedish MPs vote through citizenship reforms without transitional rulesSweden's parliament rejects transitional rules for citizenship billSweden Democrats accused of cheating to block transitional rules for citizenshipSwedish opposition demand revote on transitional citizenship rules'I feel scammed': Foreigners in Sweden react to controversial citizenship voteSwedish traditionsWalpurgis Night: Why are Swedes dancing around bonfires?Where are the best places to celebrate Valborg in Sweden in 2026?Why is May 1st a public holiday in Sweden? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  8. 28 APR

    '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 members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ __ Sweden is heading to an election in less than five months and the left of centre parties are leading consistently in the polls. But the question everyone's asking i:, could this disparate group of parties form a government? Will the Centre Party or the Left Party drop some of their red lines to make this happen? And what could the alternatives be?  Richard Orange caught up with Nicholas Aylott, Associate Professor of Political Science at Södertörn University in the south of Stockholm, to ask him what might happen.  READ ALSO: Will there still be a left-wing and right-wing bloc come September? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 min
See All (272)

Trailers

About

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Local
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Local Europe AB
  • Show Website
    Sweden in Focus

You Might Also Like