'Sweden was like a paradise at first – but then reality hits'

In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists James Savage, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Diamant Salihu, a crime reporter for public broadcaster SVT and the author of the award winning Tills Alla Dör, or Until Everyone's Dead.But first we look at what's coming up in February. Visit the link below to get all the key info you need on: accessing Sweden's new energy subsidy, registering a pre-paid SIM card, the likelihood of new interest rate hikes, and dates for sportlov - the mid-term school holiday. What changes in Sweden in February 2023How to register for Sweden's energy price subsidyNext, we chat to Eurovision expert Ben Robertson about what makes Melodifestivalen so compelling and who's likely to win this year's national song contest.How do you watch the Swedish extravaganza that is Melodifestivalen?This week Annie Lööf formally handed over the reins of the Centre Party to Muharrem Demirok. What does he need to do to attract voters to the only centre-right party that refused to collaborate with the far-right Sweden Democrats? Who is the new leader of Sweden's Centre Party and why is it important?We also chat about why the prime minster's closest aide resigned over an eel-fishing scandal. Swedish PM's top aide resigns over illegal eel fishingIn the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we catch up with Mehdi Hasan, Bangladesh's ambassador to Sweden, to find out about relations between the countries, how many Bangladeshis there are in Sweden, and his personal reflections on his time in Sweden. We'll have an article featuring more from the interview in the coming days. Finally, we ask Diamant Salihu to explain the roots of Sweden's deadly gang conflicts and why they have spread around the country. We had a really good chat with Diamant and will release a bonus episode during the week featuring more of his insights. INTERVIEW: 'Everybody in Sweden who buys cocaine should know the money is used to buy bullets' Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Feb 202333min

In this bonus episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden.We discuss how rising interest rates are putting pressure on homeowners, how billionaires are profiting from Sweden’s most disadvantaged areas, how an ex-politician became a billionaire from buying up local council properties, why Andreas believes the Swedish central bank’s monetary policy has been one of the main drivers of inequality, and we ask just how prepared Sweden is for the prospect of a major financial crisis. And if you'd like to read more you can check out these articles. Ten terrifying stats about Sweden from the hit book Girig-SverigeINTERVIEW: 'It's like before the Swedish financial crisis only the numbers are bigger'__SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Jan 202317min

In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton, as well as special guest Andreas Cervenka, author of the award winning Girig-Sverige, or Greedy Sweden.On this week's episode we dissect Sweden's stalled Nato application and who's behind the Koran-burning stunt that prompted Turkey to postpone the ratification process indefinitely. How did a far-right extremist derail Sweden's Nato application?Previous podcast: Why Sweden experienced its worst riots in decadesWe discuss the Swedish housing market in a Scandinavian perspective and how it has led to the emergence of a property-related A Team and B Team in Sweden. IN CHARTS: How bad is the situation in Scandinavian housing markets?We talk about this week's layoffs at Spotify and what you can do if you lose your job in Sweden.Spotify cuts 6 percent of workforceEverything you need to know if you lose your job in SwedenWhat happens to your Swedish work permit if you lose your job?In the latest of our interviews with ambassadors, we get insights from New Zealand's Andrew Jenks on everything from the internationalization of Sweden to its position as a 'moral superpower'.Finally we enlist the help of our guest Andreas Cervenka to find out how Sweden became a billionaires' paradise over the course of just a couple of decades.Ten terrifying stats about Sweden from the hit book Girig-Sverige Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 Jan 202339min

In the latest episode, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and James Savage.On this week's episode we explore a game-changing rare earth metal find in northern Sweden. We discuss Sweden's priorities for the EU presidency with Louise Bengtsson, senior researcher at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies.INTERVIEW: What's on the agenda for Sweden's EU presidency?As rail operator SJ prepares to launch a sleeper train from Stockholm to Berlin, we talk about the costs and benefits. Richard's route: On-board Sweden's new sleeper service from Hamburg to MalmöIn the latest in our series of interviews with ambassadors, we interview Nur Ashikin Mohd Taib, who leaves Sweden this week after serving for four years as Malaysia's top diplomat in Stockholm.We also discuss how an activist group's hanging of an effigy of Turkey’s President Erdogan has further complicated Turkish-Swedish relations. Also:Sweden's new Centre Party leader to renounce Turkish citizenshipOPINION: Sweden's emerging debate on dual citizenship is terrifyingAnd we chat about a prime ministerial aide who has received a heft fine for illegally fishing endangered eels. Also, we briefly discuss two stories that broke right as we were recording: EXPLAINED: These are the weapons that Sweden is sending to UkraineSpy scandal: Two brothers jailed for passing secrets to Russia__SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in Focus Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 Jan 202335min

In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by panelists Becky Waterton, Emma Löfgren and James Savage.On this week's episode we examine the King’s 43-year grudge against a law change on the line of succession.Swedish King still annoyed over 'unfair' succession lawWe discuss why this is a good year for public holidays in Sweden.How to make the most of Sweden's public holidays in 2023With a report suggesting the Swedish economy is facing its biggest shock since the 1990s, we’ll give you some tips for how to save money.Sweden's economy facing 'most severe shock since early 1990s'Five ways to save money in SwedenWe’ll listen to an interview with Tanmaya Lal, the Indian ambassador to Sweden. We have a roundup of what migration law changes are in the offing. What's the current status of Sweden's planned migration laws?We chat about why Sweden is responsible for half of all the expulsion orders served to UK citizens in the EU post-Brexit.More than 1,000 Brits ordered to leave Sweden since BrexitAnd we round things off with a short quiz about Gothenburg.__SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in FocusJOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 Jan 202337min

In the final episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast for 2022, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage.What does 2023 hold in store for Sweden? We chat about some of the stories expected to dominate the news agenda next year. Check out our preview article to find out more: Everything that changes in Sweden in 2023 A special thank you to The Local's members! Your support is what makes the podcast possible. Happy New Year to all our listeners! Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Des 202217min

Here are some of the stories we discuss in this week's episode:John Oliver discover's Malmö's sexy binsSweden blocks extradition of Turkish journalistGovernment orders crackdown on work and residence permit abusesCrown Princess’s favourite chimp dies after zoo escapeJan: stormsFeb: Bishop defrockedMarch: MelodifestivalenApril: Nyamko Sabuni resignsMay: Boris Johnson to HarpsundJune: Riksbank hikes ratesJuly: Pole vault world recordAug: Right-wing extremist candidatesSep: Swedish electionOct: Nobel prizesNov: Spontaneous dance banDec: Hottest gifts Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Des 202232min

SURVEY: Share your feedback on Sweden in FocusJOIN THE LOCAL: Podcast listener offer__In the latest episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast, host Paul O’Mahony is joined by regular panelists Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage, as well as guest Jonas Engman, ethnologist and curator at Nordiska Museet and an expert on Swedish traditions.This week our columnist David Crouch wrote an excellent article about Sweden's property market slump. We discuss how property woes and rising prices are presenting problems for Sweden's inhabitants this winter.Hold on tight: Sweden's housing bubble has burstSweden had its highest inflation in over 30 years in NovemberSeven ways to save money on food and drink in SwedenWe also talk about a new report from Sweden's parliamentary ombudsman criticising long waiting times at the migration agency. But will it make any difference?Swedish Migration Agency rebuked for ‘unacceptable’ processing timesREVEALED: The truth about waiting times at Sweden’s Migration AgencyTwice the Sweden Democrats were in the news this week over moves to block cultural events: a reading event for children hosted by two drag queens, and a traditional Lucia procession fronted by a person who identifies as non-binary. Why are the Sweden Democrats preoccupied with issues surrounding gender identity, and should we be worried when they intervene like this?Is the ‘arm’s length’ principle for the arts in Sweden at risk of amputation?We have an interview with Étienne de Gonneville, France's ambassador to Sweden, about the makeup of the French community in Sweden, how a bilateral agreement is strengthening ties between the two countries, and his own reflections on life in Sweden. For our main topic this week we enlist the help of Jonas Engman to answer questions on everything from why Swedes watch Donald Duck every Christmas to the story behind the ubiquitous straw goats. Don't miss it: his answers are truly fascinating.All our latest articles on Christmas 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.

17 Des 202242min