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Sweden in Focus

Sweden in Focus

By: The Local
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About this listen

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.

The Local Europe AB Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Why Sweden is shutting off pathways to permanent residency

    Why Sweden is shutting off pathways to permanent residency
    Apr 17 2026
    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+

    __

    This week we ask how new curbs on permanent residency will hit immigrants.

    As the Wallenberg family rescues a groundbreaking green steel project in northern Sweden, we examine whether the Swedish green transition has reached a fork in the road.

    We also have a look at what goodies the government is showering over the electorate in the last budget before the election.

    And in exclusive material for Membership+ subscribers we discuss Swedes’ favourite word – and we ask if our panelists can come up with a better one.

    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:


    Immigration
    • EXPLAINED: Who is affected by Sweden's law phasing out permanent residency


    Politics
    • KEY POINTS: Sweden's spring budget bill in less than a minute


    Business
    • Swedish steel startup Stegra to receive 1.4 billion euro investment


    Swedish language
    • Is lagom really the best word in the Swedish language?


    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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    35 mins
  • ‘It’s wrong for the Swedish state to decide who companies should employ’

    ‘It’s wrong for the Swedish state to decide who companies should employ’
    Apr 15 2026
    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.

    __

    Applicants for work permits in Sweden will soon have to earn 90 percent of the median wage, or just over 33,000 kronor a month, to qualify.

    But some key professions will be exempted from the requirement. No decision has yet been made on exactly which jobs will be exempted, but The Local recently obtained lists of the professions provided to the government by the Migration Agency for consideration.

    The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, a lobby group representing Swedish businesses, has long sought to maintain Sweden's liberal work permit rules.

    In this week’s episode, The Local's Richard Orange catches up with Amelie Berg, the organisation's expert on immigration and labour mobility issues, to get her take on the latest updates.

    READ ALSO:

    • Swedish businesses call for work permit exemption list 'as soon as possible'


    Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Why does Ulf Kristersson want to put Sweden Democrats in charge of immigration?

    Why does Ulf Kristersson want to put Sweden Democrats in charge of immigration?
    Apr 11 2026
    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 how high-skilled workers are reacting to the newest migration laws.In exclusive material for Membership+ subscribers we discuss whether the Swedish culture of shielding kids from competition is progressive or constraining.Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and Richard Orange.__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 session__Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:PoliticsSweden Democrats to be in charge of immigration in a future right-wing governmentDetained in SwedenTwo hours inside Sweden's controversial detention hub for to-be-deported migrantsSwedish police asked to speed up deportation of 'intelligent and articulate' software engineerImmigrationA ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus banSwedish traditions'We can go elsewhere': Skilled workers question future in Sweden over citizenship reformsGet 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+ 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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    36 mins
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