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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.