Sweden in Focus

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.

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In this week’s episode The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange interviews Ximena Ramos Salas and her husband Nelson Loyola about the pending deportation of their son Andres.

Ximena grew up in Sweden and the family moved back from Canada in 2018 to be with her terminally ill mother in Skåne.

Her son, who has severe ADHD, has dropped out of his adult education classes as a result of the stress and anxiety brought on by the decision to deport him.

"There's no way we're gonna send him back alone. He is fully dependent on us."

READ ALSO:

• 'If I’d known, I wouldn't have come': How Sweden's teen deportations deter skilled workers
• Swedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduate

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

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

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 talk about a deportation order issued to an eight-year-old infant that has shocked Sweden.

In lighter news, we’ll ask why one Swedish town wants more of its inhabitants to get intimate during work hours.

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For Membership+ subscribers we dig into the first figures on voluntary repatriation after the government offered a large grant to get more people who came to Sweden as refugees to leave the country.

Finally we look at the history of sportlov, Sweden’s annual spring break, and we give advice on how to make best use of the holiday.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, as well as a late cameo from Richard's children. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Outrage after Swedish Migration Agency orders baby to be deported
• Over 270 foreigners apply for 350,000 kronor grant to leave Sweden

• How you can get your Swedish employer to pay for your gym membership

• Everything you need to know about skiing on 'sportlov' 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.

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+ 

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In this week’s episode we talk about the latest development on teen deportations, as the issue continues to dominate the headlines in Sweden.

The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange explains why Sweden is deporting the 18-year-old children of permanent residency applicants. And what are the government's plans now that pressure is mounting to take action to stop the deportation of high school students. 

Richard also speaks to Besnik Barani, a software developer from Kosovo who has appealed a Migration Agency decision to deport his daughter. Like many other parents The Local has spoken to recently, Barani is hoping for an end to what he describes as an absurd situation. 

READ ALSO:

• Swedish government to look at allowing teen deportees to graduate
• What are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?

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 have a heavy focus on immigration after the government revealed the details of a proposed new law tightening up citizenship requirement which sparked anger among many readers of The Local, mainly because the new rules will even apply to people who have been waiting years for their applications to be processed.

For Membership+ subscribers we also look at the latest on teen deportations as the government comes under pressure to halt the expulsion of the young adult children of permanent residency holders.

Finally we focus on work visas after we learned more this week about the government’s plans to allow limited exemptions to salary requirements for permit holders.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Sweden reveals plan to tighten up citizenship rules
• Your questions about Sweden's new citizenship law
• Swedish citizenship almost impossible for stay-at-home partners under new law

• Swedish PM says no plans for a freeze on teen deportations
• What are the proposed solutions to Sweden's teen deportation problem?

• Swedish government tells Migration Agency 'limited need' for work permit exemptions

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

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

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+ 

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In this week’s episode we shine a light on teen deportations, an issue that has jumped to the top of Sweden’s political agenda.

The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up recently with the migration policy spokespeople for the Green and Centre parties, two of three parties backing an initiative to end the deportation of the 18 year old children of permanent residency applicants.

Annika Hirvonen from the Green Party explains why the Greens and the Left Party have filed a parliamentary initiative calling to reinstate a legal clause that previously stopped young adults being split from their families when they lost their residency permits as a dependent.

Niels Paarup-Petersen from the Centre Party talks about the challenges of trying to get the Social Democrats on board with the initiative. 

In the studio, Richard gives more background on an issue that's affecting many foreigners in Sweden, and we look ahead at what's likely to happen next. 

READ ALSO:

• Swedish opposition parties call for new law to stop teen deportations
• 'People in Sweden are really raising their voices now and it’s very beautiful'

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

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

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+ 

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In this week's episode we talk about the Swedish government’s pledge to drive through 12 new immigration laws before the September election.

With the Winter Olympics underway, we assess Sweden’s chances and answer the big question: what's biathlon?

For Membership+ subscribers we explain why the Migration Agency has been tasked with creating a new list of professions to be exempted from work permit salary requirements.

We also hear from a disgruntled panelist who’s had to attend one too many Swedish parent-teacher meetings and wonders if there’s any way to fix them.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists James Savage and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Sweden to pass twelve new migration laws before September election

• How can you watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on Swedish TV?

• Why does Sweden's government want a new list of jobs exempted from the salary limit?

• Do Swedish parent-teacher meetings have to be quite so unproductive?

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

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

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+ 

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In this week’s episode the immigration lawyer Tomas Fridh chats with The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange about the government’s plan to revoke permanent residency permits from foreign citizens in Sweden.

What are the criticisms of the proposal, who would be affected, and how likely is it that the government will push it through?

Fridh explains that the Swedish Bar Association has given five reason that each would constitute grounds to ditch the plan. 

"I believe that in both Swedish and European law, it is forbidden to have random reasons for laws where the state uses force against individuals," he says. 

"Where you take rights away from individuals you cannot be discriminatory, and you cannot be random,"

Tune in to this week's episode for the full interview with Tomas Fridh. 

READ ALSO:

• Lawyer says Sweden's plan to revoke residencies 'illegal on multiple counts'

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

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

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+ 

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In this week's episode we talk about how exposed Sweden’s economy is to tariff threats from the US and wider global turbulence. And why has the finance minister reawakened the euro debate? 

We also look at some of the new words that have made it into the Swedish dictionary and how the English plural s is gaining more acceptance in Swedish.

For Membership+ subscribers we examine why Sweden is making it much harder for high school pupils from non-EU countries to come here on exchange programmes.

We also dig into an investigation on systematic abuse of Sweden's student visa system and what the country is doing to crack down.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• How Trump-proof is Sweden's economy?
• Swedish finance minister willing to investigate joining euro after election
• Why hasn't Sweden joined the euro and will it ever happen?

• What are the new words in Sweden's language rulebook?
• Grammar guide: When to use compound words in Swedish

• Sweden denying study permits for high-school exchange programs

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

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

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+ 

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In this week’s episode we hear from Abhi Nag Balasubramanya, a former Northvolt worker who successfully launched a microgreens company in Skellefteå whose products have been enthusiastically received locally.

But his future in Sweden is in serious doubt after he got a letter from the Migration Agency warning him that he wasn’t eligible for a residency permit.

The Local’s Nordic editor Richard Orange caught up with Balasubramanya recently to hear more about how he ended up in Sweden, why he set up a business here, and how he’s responding to a letter that threatens to bring his stay in Sweden to a premature close.

READ ALSO:

• 'If I don't have a permit to live in Sweden no one will be willing to invest'

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

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

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+ 

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In this week's episode we talk about what a difference it makes when the Swedish media start reporting on immigration policies that force foreign workers to leave Sweden. 

We also get into how Sweden has been reacting first to tariff threats and then their withdrawal by US President Donald Trump.

For Membership+ subscribers we look at what readers of The Local are telling us about how their food habits have changed since moving to Sweden.

Finally we discuss why women in Sweden tend to vote left while men lean more to the right.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and James Savage.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Is Swedish media opinion on migration crackdown finally shifting?
• Swedish Liberal party calls for new agency to handle work permits
• Which new laws affecting foreigners in Sweden will be published this spring?

• How Trump-proof is Sweden's economy?
• Swedish stock market expected to rise after Trump drops tariff threat

• Fika, meatballs and Kalles kaviar: Which Swedish foods habits have you adopted?

• Why do men in Sweden vote for the right and women for the left?

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

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