This week we look at the government’s solution to teen deportations, and we discuss the new citizenship law coming into force on Saturday, which also happens to be National Day.

We also talk about how unnerving it can be for foreigners when a young child switches to Swedish before you even properly understand it.

And for Membership+ subscribers, we talk about the Swedish community in the US and how they keep their Swedishness alive.

Host Richard Orange is joined this week by panelists Mandy Pipher and James Savage.

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

• Sweden's house speaker says no to emergency motion on transitional rules
• Sweden's government announces proposed solution for teen deportations
• Is the Swedish Migration Agency working overtime to fast-track citizenship cases?

• Citizenship-scandal Sweden Democrat MP quits over child pornography probe

• The hardest part of moving to Sweden? Suddenly not understanding my own child

• The migration crisis that divided Sweden and made it a better country

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This week we are delving into the sort of jobs the Sweden Democrats could get if they join the government after the election.

With new rules for work permits coming in next week, we look at an unexpectedly short list of exempted professions.

Is Sweden’s new status as a ‘smoke-free country’ really just be due to tobacco taxes and good public health campaigns?

Why is the government proposing to halve the cost of a monthly card for regional public transport from July 1st until the end of the year?

And we look at how end-of-term gifts to Swedish teachers have become so extravagant in some cases that a few Swedish councils have now banned the practice altogether.

Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Richard Orange and Emma Löfgren.

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

• Sweden Democrats aim for half of cabinet seats in a right-wing government
• Sweden to cut monthly public transport tickets by 50 percent in all regions

• 'Incredible' milestone reached as Sweden becomes a smoke-free country

• 'It's a gut punch': Time running out for 100,000 applicants as Sweden's citizenship deadline nears
• What Sweden's new higher salary threshold means for work permit applicants

• Swedish municipalities (at least some) ban end-of-term gifts for teachers

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+

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With just two weeks left until Sweden introduces a new citizenship law, how are applicants who are stuck in the queue feeling about their chances of becoming Swedish?

And what do they have to say about the government’s decision not to introduce transitional rules, meaning that they’ll be judged according to tougher new criteria, including longer residency, as well as language and knowledge requirements?

Around 100,000 applicants are currently waiting to become naturalised Swedes and The Local Sweden’s editor Emma Löfgren recently caught up with some of them.

In this week’s episode we hear from four of the people Emma spoke to: Victoria Heisler, Sigrid Holmwood, Volodymr Rubinets, and Ffion McEvoy.

READ ALSO:

• All The Local's coverage of new Swedish citizenship rules

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+

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The repercussions of the Sweden Democrats' decision to defy Swedish parliamentary convention to get new citizenship rules passed without transitional rules are continuing to be felt.

But what are the long-term consequences of the Sweden Democrats' willingness to break the rules governing Swedish politics? And could there be a price for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's moderate party?

Moderate veteran Mikael Odenberg, a former defence minister and former group leader for the party in parliament, thinks there could. In this interview with Richard Orange, he explains why.

READ ALSO:

• Former defence minister accuses Sweden Democrats of 'sabotaging' citizenship vote

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.

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

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This week we discuss the talk about whether the rule of law is threatened in Sweden, as many lawyers are now arguing.

We also ask why things got heated in the Riksdag this week.

Why are some museums saying they’re being forced out of Stockholm?

And we finish up with a tricky quiz on Swedish society.

Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Mandy Pipher.

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

• More than 1,800 lawyers warn rule of law being dismantled in Sweden

• Sweden Democrat MP accused of threatening behaviour in parliament

• QUIZ: Can you pass The Local's mock Swedish citizenship test?

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This week’s episode is sponsored by SULF, the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers.

SULF was instrumental recently in securing residence permit exemptions for academics and is consistently working hard to be as accessible as possible for English speakers in Sweden.

So if you are a PhD student or university teacher in Sweden you’ll find SULF a great place to meet like-minded people who are fighting hard for academic freedom and the rights of researchers here.

You can find out more on the English-language section of the SULF website.

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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+

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

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

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Sweden is introducing a stricter new citizenship law from June 6th. But there will be no transitional provisions for the 100,000 people waiting in the citizenship queue.

That’s unless opposition politicians manage to force lawmakers to vote again on transitional rules after the previous vote was marred by cheating accusations at the end of last month, as The Local was first to report.

Last week our reporter Mandy Pipher caught up with Åsa Holmes, the head of the Swedish Migration Agency’s citizenship unit in Gothenburg to find out how the agency is planning to assess cases after the June changes come into force. And will applicants be able to get a refund now that Sweden has moved the goal posts?

READ ALSO:

• How will the Swedish Migration Agency handle citizenship cases after June 6th?

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.

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

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