This week: Sweden in shock after school sword attack, Sweden Democrats say no to tactical voting, Migration Agency weighs in on Brexit deportations, and what do foreign parents find strange about Swedish schools?

Host James Savage is joined this week by panelists Emma Löfgren and Becky Waterton.

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

• Liberal leader begs for tactical votes
• Early voting opens in Sweden – 18 days before election
• Sweden's right-wing bloc gains ground in new polls as election nears

• Second man held over fatal Fagersta school attack

• 'Ripped from a loved one': British-Swedish couple separated by Brexit deportation
• 'Brexit can hardly have come as a surprise': Sweden defends expelling Brits

• What foreign parents think of schools in Sweden

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For a recent article on the real-life effects of Sweden's immigration laws on families in Sweden, The Local's Mandy Pipher spoke with a Swedish-American couple who are both biological scientists and living in Uppsala.

The pair met a decade ago when Anna-Karin moved to Chicago for a postdoctoral position in immunology and flu vaccine research. Chris, also a biologist, was finishing his immunology PhD at the same university. Three years later, when Anna-Karin was moving back to Sweden for another work opportunity, the two were a committed couple, and they made plans for Chris to follow to Sweden as soon as possible.

By the summer of 2021, Chris was on his way to Sweden with a job offer from Karolinska, Sweden's prestigious medical research institute in hand.

But despite have a Swedish spouse, owning a home together in Sweden, speaking Swedish, and doing years of valuable work at one of Sweden's top research institutes, Chris was given just days to leave the country or risk being served with a Schengen area entry ban.

READ ALSO:

• 'I felt betrayed by my country': Swedish scientist blasts treatment of US husband

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In this week's episode: Sweden Democrats campaign hard, Brexit deportations, citizenship tests and the "caterpillar from hell".

With just over three weeks to go until Sweden’s election, the campaign is intensifying. But reaching voters is trickier than usual this year thanks to new EU limits on political advertising. This might explain an explosion of political posters, sponsored buses and creative political rallies.

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

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

• Swedish bus operator removes anti-immigration ads after drivers call in sick
• Centre Party bets on Tidö bloc collapse to open door for new coalition

• Men with foreign names hit hardest by hiring bias in Sweden

• OPINION: The EU is betraying Brexit Brits in Sweden

• 'Caterpillar from hell' moth found in Sweden – but biologist says no need to panic

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Gustav Magnuson and Luisa Fernandez met in Costa Rica in 2018 when Gustav was there on a cycling trip of Central and South America. The two felt such a strong and immediate connection that Gustav never made it farther south on his cycling tour. Instead, he stayed with Louisa in San Jose.

A few years later the two were married and are now living in Stockholm with their one-year-old child.

In an interview with The Local's Mandy Pipher they explain how Swedish immigration law is affecting their family life and their peace of mind.

READ ALSO:

• 'I feel shame and rage': Immigration clampdown hits Swedes close to home

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This was the week in which the Swedish election campaign started to take some kind of shape. If the focus in 2022 was all crime and immigration, this time it looks like the economy is taking centre stage. What are the big differences between the parties, and what might all this mean for how the election develops?

We also look this week at revelations about spies’ activities in Sweden and we ask why Swedish authorities went public with this right now.

Also, Richard has been digging into teen deportations – and has discovered that the problem is more widespread that the Swedish media previously reported.

And is Hollywood actor Joel Kinnaman right to claim that Swedish attitudes to drugs are hopelessly out of date?

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

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

• Sweden's Centre Party won't support Social Democrats if they keep sick day promise
• Sweden's Moderates outline 70 billion kronor savings to fund election pledges
• Sweden's Social Democrats promise extra child benefits for holidays

• Sweden’s teen deportations were far more widespread than reported

• OPINION: Sweden needs politicians who stand up for sin

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Sweden in Focus is back! James Savage, Richard Orange and Mandy Pipher look chew over the latest from Sweden, including:

• Scandal hits Sweden Democrats and Left Party
• Is tipping now the norm in Sweden?
• How do you eat a crayfish?
• The Sweden Democrats' Ludvig Aspling tells us why he thinks high-skilled immigrants don't care about citizenship.

Articles discussed in this episode:

'I feel shame and rage': Immigration clampdown hits Swedes close to home (interview with Gustav and Luisa)

'I felt betrayed by my country': Swedish scientist blasts treatment of US husband (Interview with Anna-Karin and Chris)

Sweden's opposition hope to vote down two-year wait for family reunion (interview with Annika Hirvonen)

Swedish Left Party MP apologises for 'accidental' support message to terrorist

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What does an American chef notice when he transplants himself to Sweden? John Klopson, known as Lost Chef in Sweden on Instagram and TikTok, talks to James Savage of his love for Swedish bread and dairy, and asks why Swedes use so much salt.

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How did Greta Gustafsson, a shop assistant born into an ordinary working family in Stockholm, transform into Greta Garbo, one of the greatest film stars of all time? And what was she really like as a person? Scott Reisfield, her great-nephew and biographer, tells James Savage that her Swedishness permeated her work and influence on Hollywood.

Link: https://scottreisfield.com/

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