This week host James Savage and regular panelist Richard Orange record the podcast from Almedalen, the annual politics fest in Visby on the Baltic island of Gotland.
They are joined for a lively politics conversation by Henrik Torehammar, a political commentator for the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.
Almedalen is sometime criticised as an event for Sweden's elites, but how elitist can any event really be in what Torehammar calls a "bicycle monarchy" famed for its flat hierarchies?
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is trying to turn a corner in the medieval alleyways. His Moderate Party is edging towards a disastrous election if polls are to be believed. Can he pull a result out of the fire at the eleventh hour?
It's a happier week for the opposition parties, who look poised to snatch power. But will some pretty major ideological differences act as a stumbling block for the Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson?
And what issues are likely to dominate in the run-up to the September election. Immigration? Climate? Or could the rise of AI make its presence felt on the campaign trail?
Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:
Politics
- Why are Swedish politicians so silent on AI?
- Sweden Democrat leader takes aim at Social Democrats in key speech
- Sweden Democrats launch retro election campaign to make 'Sweden like Sweden again'
- More than half of voters think Sweden's government will lose election
- Stay on top of the Swedish election: How to follow The Local's coverage
You can listen to the latest episode here:
Or follow Sweden in Focus wherever you listen to podcasts.
Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcasts
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.
Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription.