Shows / Sweden in Focus
Sweden in Focus
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.
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Episodes
- Sweden in Focus
Foreigners in Sweden sick and tired of political brinkmanship
It's been another turbulent week in Swedish politics. The deadlock remains, although the chances of a centre-right government forming seem to have increased…
- Sweden in Focus
'Integration won't happen without Swedes and immigrants working together'
This week's Sweden in Focus Extra podcast features an interview with Jackie Rulander, a cross-cultural strategist from Barbados who is based in Jönköping. Not…
- Sweden in Focus
Who's really Swedish if the Sweden Democrats get to decide?
Jimmie Åkesson and Richard Jomshof are old university friends and both were part of the "Gang of Four" who remoulded a party with Nazi roots into an electable…
- Sweden in Focus
Sweden says strict immigration outweighs baby's right to be with his dad
This week's Sweden in Focus Extra podcast features an interview with Simon Montgomery, a British-American father facing expulsion from Sweden despite wanting…
- Sweden in Focus
Why don't pregnancy or parenthood matter for Sweden's Migration Agency?
This week: Why are the Social Democrats acting like bit players? Why have a mother-to-be and an active father been told to leave Sweden? Are immigration laws…
- Sweden in Focus
What would make the Centre Party rejoin the right in Sweden?
This week's Sweden in Focus Extra podcast features an interview with Matilda Molander, head of the green and liberal Fores think tank. Not yet a member of The…
- Sweden in Focus
Why did Swedish media miss so much of the immigration clampdown?
This week: Halloween in Sweden, Swedish media coverage of the Tidö government’s migration crackdown, our favourite Swedish children’s books, efforts to form…
- Sweden in Focus
Ex-Northvolt worker ordered to leave Sweden while 21 weeks pregnant
This week’s Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with Brenda and Marcus Ramström, a couple in western Sweden who speak to The Local days before she is…
- Sweden in Focus
What next for Sweden as Magdalena Andersson loses first PM vote?
This week: First month post-election ends with no government, breakthrough on ending teen deportations, a plan to help citizenship applicants hit retroactively…
- Sweden in Focus
'Life's uncertain for immigrants in Sweden but it's important not to despair'
This week’s Sweden in Focus Extra features an interview with AI consultant Anna Bärlund, who won an appeal last week against her Swedish citizenship rejection…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
‘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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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 in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
Sweden in FocusQuislings 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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
Sweden in FocusIs 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…
Sweden in FocusOur 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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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 in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'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…
- Sweden in Focus
How Sweden’s dramatic citizenship law deadline day unfolded
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'Still a mystery' how Sweden's left can end in-fighting to rule together
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…
- Sweden in Focus
Why most high-skilled workers say they're happy in Sweden
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…
- Sweden in Focus
'Sweden is no longer good at protecting the interests of its international residents'
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…
- Sweden in Focus
Why Sweden is shutting off pathways to permanent residency
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…
- Sweden in Focus
‘It’s wrong for the Swedish state to decide who companies should employ’
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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…
- Sweden in Focus
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 Sweden April 16th session May 12th…
- Sweden in Focus
How serious is Sweden's democratic decline?
Our sponsor this week is Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Sign up here for their live Q&A sessions on working in Sweden April 16th session May 12th…
- Sweden in Focus
'We worry that migration rules are making Sweden more unattractive'
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