Articles by this author
'All must have prizes': what Easter egg socialism says about Sweden
The Local's Nordic Editor Richard Orange wonders in this opinion piece why he still feels so outraged by the peculiar way Easter egg hunts happen in Sweden.
Swedish Migration Agency works to cut backlog as waiting time passes 1,000 days
Three months after the Swedish Migration Agency aimed to clear its backlog of four-year-old cases, thousands of applicants from the period are still waiting to be assigned case officers.
Why is Maundy Thursday a holiday in Denmark and Norway but not in Sweden?
People in Denmark and Norway have the day off on Maundy Thursday, but people in Sweden still have to work. Why is this?
Five ways in which Sweden's government is eroding the rule of law
Sweden has been named once again as one of the EU countries undergoing "a decline in democratic standards" in the annual report of the Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties), with the human rights group highlighting the government's abuse of the legislative process.
Swedish government wants to renegotiate pay transparency directive
Sweden's government has announced plans to delay and renegotiate the EU's Pay Transparency Directive, which it argues is so "administratively burdensome" that it threatens gender equality gains.
A ban on being Swedish? Minister rails against France's new snus ban
Swedes living in France are up-in-arms over the country's move to class tobacco-free nicotine pouches as a "dangerous substance", making even possession an offence, with Sweden's trade minister claiming the law is tantamount to saying "you're not allowed to be Swedish".
Swedish Migration Agency stops automatically taking passports in citizenship cases
Sweden's Migration Agency has stopped automatically requesting passports at the start of citizenship applications to lessen the inconvenience to applicants who want to travel.
Swedish security police justify stance on citizenship transitional rules
Sweden's Säpo security police has justified its opposition to adding transitional rules to an upcoming bill bringing in stricter citizenship rules, saying that the process of identifying possible threats "often takes a long time".
Swedish parliament votes through new work permit salary threshold
Sweden's parliament has voted to bring in a new minimum salary for work permits set at 90 percent of Sweden's median wage, with the new requirement in force from June 1st.
Swedish government scraps language tests for permanent residency
Sweden's government has dropped plans to bring in compulsory language tests for those applying for permanent residency, a spokesperson for Migration Minister Johan Forssell has told The Local.
Does Sweden need an 'integration amnesty' to stop deportations?
Few positions are more central on Sweden’s political right than the one Fredrik Kopsch holds as chief economist at Timbro. But as he launches a new book on deportations, Utvisad, which calls for an amnesty for integrated foreigners, he says his liberal views feel increasingly at out of place.
Moderate youth leader confident of solution for Sweden's teen deportations
Douglas Thor, leader of the Moderate Party’s youth wing, raised the issue of unfair deportations long before it became a top political issue. He isn’t seeking credit – he wants a solution for those affected.
Calf dance and boiled bread: The Swedish foods with EU protection
Sweden is battling to win Norrland and East Coast Baltic herrings EU 'Protected Designation of Origin' status ‒ joining a stable of fishy specialities that is starting to rival France's list of cheeses. But a lot of the other specialities are pretty weird. How many of these have you heard of?
EU grills Sweden over passport issue for citizenship applicants
The European Commission has contacted Swedish authorities after citizens from Ireland were told that their EU passports were not sufficient proof of identity in citizenship applications.
Are Swedes funny? Explaining the many types of Swedish jokes
Swedes generally get lumped in with the Germans as a nation with no sense of humour (unlike their slightly funnier neighbours the Dutch, Danish and Norwegians). But it's not true! Or not entirely, anyway. Swedes do have a sense of humour, it's just a bit different. Here's The Local's contributor Richard Orange's guide to help you recognise when a Swede is trying to be funny.
'Not seen as a taboo or failure': What it's like getting divorced in Sweden
Getting divorced or separating in Sweden is much simpler than in most readers' home countries, and men and women are treated much more equally, according to the readers who answered our survey. But not everyone welcomed these differences.
How to pick mushrooms in Sweden like you've been doing it all your life
Autumn is here, which means one thing ‒ mushroom season! Richard Orange discovers five things you need to know about how to mushroom-hunt like a Swede.
Swedish dating disaster series tops Netflix viewing figures abroad
Swedish dating disaster drama Diary of a Ditched Girl has shot to the top of viewing figures in over 30 countries a week after launching on Netflix.
Pippi, Ikea and the Nobel prize: Sweden gets its first cultural canon
Pippi Longstocking, Ikea's first branch in Älmhult, paid paternity leave, the Nobel Prize and the political speech that launched the 'folkhem'. These are among the 109 works and phenomena that have been included in Sweden's new cultural canon.
Sweden's government expected to halve VAT on food in election budget
Sweden's government is expected to halve VAT on food in the budget to be presented later this month, in a move to kickstart the country's weak economy and win over voters ahead of next year's election.
What we know about Sweden's delayed plans for tougher work permit rules
The year-long disagreement among the government parties on whether to raise the minimum salary for a work permit to the Swedish median has broken out into the open. What is the controversial policy and why has it been delayed?
Should foreigners in southern Sweden look for jobs in Copenhagen?
While Malmö and Skåne are suffering high unemployment, Denmark's capital is screaming out for workers. Is now the time for foreigners living in southern Sweden to look for work on the other side of the Öresund Bridge?
'Worse than prison': Brexit Brit locked up in Swedish detention centre then deported
British national Nigel Davies, who missed the post-Brexit deadline to get residency in Sweden, was this month seized by Swedish police, locked up for three nights and then forcibly deported to the UK.