Sweden in Focus

Epizodes

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  'Sweden's Centre Party is actually in a very weak bargaining position' 16.09.2026 17min

  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 likely to look like? Nicholas Aylott, associate politics professor at Södertörn University, gives his views in a conversation with The Local's Richard Orange.  READ ALSO:Centre Party 'ready to start talks' with Social Democrats on new Swedish government Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sweden's election is over. Now what? 14.09.2026 26min

  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 leader Magdalena Andersson could still be headed for a second stint as Sweden’s prime minister.The incumbent, Ulf Kristersson, meanwhile can breathe a sigh of relief as his Moderate Party regained its position as Sweden’s second biggest party.Their rise came at the expense of the Sweden Democrats, whose vote share dropped for the first time ever in a national election.But what does it all mean for the business of forming a new government?Host James Savage is joined this week by podcast regulars Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange.READ ALSO:What does Sweden's unexpectedly close election result mean for foreigners? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Billionaires weigh in as Sweden goes to the polls 11.09.2026 43min

  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, Robert Weil, shot back, saying he was more concerned about “an ethno-nationalist and authoritarian policy where the issue of migration is allowed to dominate at the expense of other issues and interests."Meanwhile, the Liberals are poised to clear the 4 percent threshold they need to get into parliament, according to a new Novus poll showing that the party had leapt from 1.9 percent to 5.8 percent.The poll follows others that showed significant gains for the Liberals after months in which the party has languished well under the threshold, leaving many commentators to all but write off their chances – and those of Ulf Kristersson’s government.On Sunday we'll find out if the Prime Minister's coalition has done enough to claw their way back or if Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson gets a second bite at the top job. 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:2026 Swedish election Swedish election blog: Who will govern Sweden after September 13th?Swedish Liberal Party soars over parliamentary threshold in new pollPolitics in Sweden: Immigration is on the agenda, but the debate is surrealTop Swedish investor slams Wallenberg's 'shameful' election scaremongeringRussian partner of top Sweden Democrat accused of pro-Putin postsOPINION: Has Jimmie Åkesson been playing the Swedish media like a fiddle? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  LISTEN: What are the Sweden Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden? 09.09.2026 36min

  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 Local's Richard Orange had with her counterpart from the Sweden Democrats, Ludvig Aspling. This interview took place in early August, a week before parliament voted on a so-called ‘safety valve’ to end teen deportations, which is one of the topics discussed in the episode. The Sweden Democrats were long a pariah in Swedish politics due to their Nazi roots. But as the largest party on the right in the 2022 election they emerged as one of the main architects of the Tidö agreement underpinning the government’s so-called paradigm shift on immigration over the past four years.The shift has seen Sweden get much tougher on asylum immigration, work and residence permits and citizenship, with many of the policies directly impacting a lot of readers of The Local.With that in mind, make sure to tune in to this week’s main episode of Sweden in Focus, which we expect to come out on Friday, for discussion and analysis of these interviews with the main immigration spokespeople for two of Sweden’s biggest rival parties.So what can foreigners in Sweden expect if the right holds on to power after the election on Sunday and the Sweden Democrats receive ministerial posts for the first time, and how happy is Ludvig Aspling with how Sweden’s immigration landscape has changed over the last four years?Tune in for the full interview. READ ALSO:'If you came to work in Sweden because of relaxed citizenship rules, I don’t want you' Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  LISTEN: What are the Social Democrats' plans for immigrants in Sweden? 08.09.2026 35min

  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 and Ludvig Aspling of the Sweden Democrats.First up: Ida Karkiainen. She is immigration spokesperson for the Social Democrats, and with her party tipped to lead Sweden’s next government we wanted to find out what direction Sweden would take on immigration under their leadership.The Social Democrats have been broadly on board with many of the changes to migration law ushered in by the current government but they have also been critical of a number of issues, such at how the government has handled the teen deportation scandal and its failure to allow transitional rules for citizenship applicants.Tune in for the full interview. READ ALSO:'We don't want people who are integrated in Sweden to be forced to leave'Social Democrats plan huge inquiry to clean up Swedish immigration law Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sweden's election is turning into a nail-biter 04.09.2026 38min

  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 week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:2026 Swedish election Swedish opposition parties' lead collapses in shock new pollKEY POINTS: How party election pledges could affect foreigners in SwedenPolitics in Sweden: The small-town demagogue aiming for a Riksdag spotFood & DrinkWhat you need to know before trying Sweden's fermented herring Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Why the Sweden Democrats refuse to rescue their Liberal allies 28.08.2026 47min

  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 leader begs for tactical votesEarly voting opens in Sweden – 18 days before electionSweden's right-wing bloc gains ground in new polls as election nearsCrimeSecond man held over fatal Fagersta school attackBrexit'Ripped from a loved one': British-Swedish couple separated by Brexit deportation'Brexit can hardly have come as a surprise': Sweden defends expelling BritsSchoolsWhat foreign parents think of schools 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.
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  'Want scientists to stay in Sweden? Don't kick them out in the first place' 25.08.2026 36min

  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 PhD at the same university. Three years later, when Anna-Karin was moving back to Sweden for another work opportunity, the two were a committed couple, and they made plans for Chris to follow to Sweden as soon as possible.By the summer of 2021, Chris was on his way to Sweden with a job offer from Karolinska, Sweden's prestigious medical research institute in hand.But despite have a Swedish spouse, owning a home together in Sweden, speaking Swedish, and doing years of valuable work at one of Sweden's top research institutes, Chris was given just days to leave the country or risk being served with a Schengen area entry ban. READ ALSO:'I felt betrayed by my country': Swedish scientist blasts treatment of US husband Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How hard is it to find a job in Sweden with a foreign name? 21.08.2026 45min

  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 creative political rallies.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:2026 Swedish election Swedish bus operator removes anti-immigration ads after drivers call in sickCentre Party bets on Tidö bloc collapse to open door for new coalitionWorking in SwedenMen with foreign names hit hardest by hiring bias in SwedenBrexitOPINION: The EU is betraying Brexit Brits in SwedenHealth'Caterpillar from hell' moth found in Sweden – but biologist says no need to panic Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  'I'll do everything I can to stay in Sweden because this is our home' 18.08.2026 32min

  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 interview with The Local's Mandy Pipher they explain how Swedish immigration law is affecting their family life and their peace of mind.READ ALSO:'I feel shame and rage': Immigration clampdown hits Swedes close to home Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Why Sweden's parties are appealing to voters' wallets 14.08.2026 41min

  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 Swedish authorities went public with this right now.Also, Richard has been digging into teen deportations – and has discovered that the problem is more widespread that the Swedish media previously reported.And is Hollywood actor Joel Kinnaman right to claim that Swedish attitudes to drugs are hopelessly out of date?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:2026 Swedish election Sweden's Centre Party won't support Social Democrats if they keep sick day promiseSweden's Moderates outline 70 billion kronor savings to fund election pledgesSweden's Social Democrats promise extra child benefits for holidaysTeen deportations Sweden’s teen deportations were far more widespread than reportedDrugsOPINION: Sweden needs politicians who stand up for sin Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Quislings and crayfish: Sweden gears up for a crazy autumn 07.08.2026 55min

  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': Immigration clampdown hits Swedes close to home (interview with Gustav and Luisa)'I felt betrayed by my country': Swedish scientist blasts treatment of US husband (Interview with Anna-Karin and Chris)Sweden's opposition hope to vote down two-year wait for family reunion (interview with Annika Hirvonen)Swedish Left Party MP apologises for 'accidental' support message to terrorist Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What this US chef loves about Swedish food 25.07.2026 21min

  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.
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  What was Greta Garbo really like? 18.07.2026 29min

  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 https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is Sweden flunking at AI? 11.07.2026 36min

  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 Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Our big poll on Sweden 04.07.2026 39min

  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 in this episode:Swedish migration minister: 'One day you're a Nazi, the next a left-wing activist' POLL: Foreign residents love Sweden, but are afraid they'll be forced outSweden becomes one of Europe's cheapest countries for petrol and diesel Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Almedalen bonus: 'Sweden needs more ambition' 27.06.2026 15min

  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.
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  Almedalen special: Is Sweden's government toast? 26.06.2026 43min

  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  Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Legal fight begins on Swedish citizenship rejections 24.06.2026 32min

  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.
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  What kind of bad conduct could get you kicked out of Sweden? 18.06.2026 28min

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