Why Sweden is following Denmark on language tests and integration

How does someone who grew up in a Stockholm suburb become the leader of a traditionally agrarian party? Why is the party opposed to new work permit rules? And what's it like being Sweden's first culturally Muslim party leader? This and more in our interview with Centre Party leader Muharrem Demirok.In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local’s publisher James Savage for a wide-ranging interview with the leader of the Centre Party, Muharrem Demirok. __Sign up now for Membership+ 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.

11 Mar 202443min

Sign up now for Membership+ 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__In this week's episode: Centre Party leader Muharrem Demirok on how Nato membership will change Sweden. Also, who'll win Melodifestivalen? Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange, while James Savage and Paul interview the Centre Party leader Muharrem Demirok. Here are links to some of the topics in the episode:MelodifestivalenWhy Melodifestivalen is Sweden's biggest TV showNatoWhat does Nato membership mean for Sweden? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Mar 202422min

Sign up now for Membership+ 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__In this week's episode: Reactions from Russia as Sweden creeps closer to Nato, Sweden’s support for Ukraine, the lowdown on Vasaloppet. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and James Savage. Here are links to some of the stories and topics we discuss:NatoWhat does Nato membership mean for Sweden?Russia threatens 'countermeasures' over Sweden's Nato membershipPodcast: Is Sweden prepared for cyber attacks?UkraineSweden to send its largest-yet military aid package to Ukraine Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Mar 202418min

Sign up now for Membership+ 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__In this week's episode: how Sweden will change when it’s in Nato, why the country has an annual book sale, what you need to know about pensions in Sweden.Host Paul O’Mahony is joined by The Local's Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the stories and topics we discuss:NatoWhat happens next for Sweden's Nato application?Books Language and literature: Essential articles for life in SwedenPensionsTen key questions to help you plan your Swedish pension now Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Feb 202418min

Sign up now for Membership+ 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+ accessRead more about Membership+ in our help centre___In this bonus episode we speak to Gemma Swift, a marketing professional from the UK who explains how she managed to make great friends in Sweden despite warnings from fellow foreigners that her efforts might end in disappointment. Host Paul O’Mahony is briefly joined by panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange, before we listen to the interview with Gemma Swift. Gemma wrote an article last year that was well received by readers of The Local so we thought we'd get her to expand on some of her points. Here's the article: How to make friends in Sweden – seven things I wish someone had told me Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Feb 202426min

Sign up now for Membership+ 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__This week: a Swedish word for February illnesses, hitting the ski slopes, devastating Liseberg blaze, changing of the guard in the Green Party, why a Social Democrat MP with Palestinian heritage became an independent, Swedish prisons in crisis mode, and what we know so far about new salary requirements for work permit holders. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the stories and topics we discuss:VabruariSwedish word of the day: vabruariSkiingEverything you need to know about skiing on 'sportlov' in SwedenLiseberg fireHuge fire destroys new attraction at Gothenburg's Liseberg amusement parkSadly, this news came through the day after we recorded the podcast:Dead body found after fire at Gothenburg's Liseberg amusement parkPoliticsJoint leader of Sweden's Green Party announces resignationOPINION: El-Haj faced the same dilemma as all immigrant politicians in SwedenPrison crisisSwedish prison service declares 'crisis' amid cell shortageWork permitsIN BRIEF: Sweden's plans to raise work permit salary threshold to 34,200 kronor Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Feb 202428min

Why do many foreigners find dating in Sweden so tough, and what's the approach to take? Hear matchmaker Lemarc Thomas give his views on how to crack the Swedish dating scene. In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is briefly joined by panelists James Savage and Becky Waterton, before we listen to an interview with professional matchmaker Lemarc Thomas. The Stockholm-based connector tells us what makes dating in Sweden so different from anything he's experienced before. He also answers questions from readers of The Local on how to proceed in a landscape where many of the usual rules no longer apply. If you'd like to read more about dating in Sweden, make sure to check out these articles:Dating in Sweden: sex, booze and mobile phonesDating in Sweden: Is it really as tough as they say?Dating in Sweden: When is a fika a fika… and when is it a date? Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 Feb 202423min

In this week's episode: semla season, better conditions for Ukrainian refugees, why Sweden is closing its NordStream blast probe, freezer malfunction spoils decades of samples at a Swedish university, an alleged Iranian plot to kill Jews in Sweden, anti-Semitism in Sweden, and new details on stop-and-search zones. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton and James Savage. We also have interview with Aron Verständig, chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and ethnologist Jonas Engman, curator at the Nordic Museum. Here are links to some of the stories we discuss:Shrove TuesdaySix sticky facts about Sweden's Fat TuesdayWhy I still don't understand the hype about Sweden's semlorSweden & UkraineSweden to change law so Ukrainians can get personal numbersNord StreamSwedish prosecutor shuts down Nord Stream investigationScience & ResearchDecades of samples destroyed in Swedish uni freezer failureAnti-SemitismIranian intelligence suspected of plot to kill Swedish JewsCrimeSweden's government to bring in stop-and-search zones in March Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Feb 202424min