In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s expansive new budget and how it’s likely to affect our pockets – and next year’s election.

We'll also help hone your Swedish language skills as we explain the subtle but all-important differences between different words for the English ‘put’.

For Membership+ subscribers we look at the fallout after Sweden’s civil defence minister was pursued in the street by angry pro-Palestinian protestors.

And we examine how Sweden is planning to make it harder for the family members of immigrants to move here.

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:

• Sweden's government to cut taxes on work and pensions
• How much will you save in Sweden's bumper 2026 budget?

• Lägga, sätta, ställa: the different Swedish words for ‘put’

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this clip from Sweden in Focus Extra, The Local's Richard Orange catches up with Douglas Thor, the head of the Moderate party’s youth wing, to talk about his ideas for combating teen deportations.

As we’ve reported quite a bit recently, Sweden is routinely deporting the young adult children of permanent residency applicants if they can’t support themselves financially, and Douglas Thor has been vocal in his criticism of how the country is essentially forcing away families who he believes have a lot to contribute to society.

He also has a lot to say about the salary threshold for work permits, how he thinks his own party has gone way too far in bending to the will of the far-right Sweden Democrats, and much more besides.

Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra.

READ ALSO:

• 'A bug in the system is seeing hard-working people deported from Sweden'
• EXPLAINED: How to avoid Sweden's teen deportation trap
• 'Sweden is less appealing': How teen deportations deter foreign talent

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange tell us how they've recently embellished their Swedish credentials through woodland activities and crayfish parties.

In news, we look at how the government is planning to combat high food prices as well as what property prices and the value of the krona are telling us about the state of Sweden’s economy.

We also dive into the new Swedish cultural canon that was presented this week and we hear what people are saying about a list spanning everything from Ikea to Pippi Longstocking.

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

• How much money will Sweden's halving of food VAT save an average family?
• Swedish apartment prices nearing three-year high
• Swedish krona reaches strongest level in more than three years

• Pippi, Ikea and the Nobel prize: Sweden gets its first cultural canon
• FULL LIST: Everything that's in Sweden's new cultural canon

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+

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.