The Local (Sweden)

The Local offers daily independent reporting from across Europe, providing a glimpse into diverse cultures. Our daily news serves as a vital connection within society, highlighting the topics that matter to our communities. We showcase the spirit of various nations by sharing stories that reveal our identities and those of others, fostering understanding and unity. With an engaging mix of daily news, business updates, and feature articles, The Local has become the largest English-language news network in Europe, attracting five million readers each month.

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KEY POINTS: What changes in Sweden in May?

1 day ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

Centre Party will officially vote for new leader The Centre Party will formally appoint its new leader at an EGM on May 3rd. The election committee has nominated Anna-Karin Hatt, who enjoys wide support within the party, so it looks likely that she will win. READ MORE: Who is Anna-Karin Hatt and why does her new role as Centre Party leader matter?
Could a Swedish cardinal become the next pope?

2 days ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

Who is Sweden’s Catholic cardinal? In 2017, Bishop Anders Arborelius was made a cardinal by Pope Francis, joining 252 cardinals worldwide to act as advisors to the pope. Cardinals typically hold the title for the rest of their lives, and those under the age of 80 are part of the conclave, the group in charge of choosing the next pope. Arborelius is 75 years old, so will be able to cast his vote in the conclave’s secret ballot, but what are the chances that he takes over from Pope Francis?
'Never waste a good crisis': How Sweden wants to attract US talent fleeing Trump

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

Since Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term as US President, the situation for academics in the US has worsened. The White House has made moves to control research funding and demanded that universities eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, as well as changing their processes of hiring and admissions.
Tell us: What's your favourite Swedish Easter tradition?

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Emma Löfgren

What are your plans for Easter this year and what Swedish Easter traditions would you recommend to newcomers? We want to hear your ideas. To take part, please fill out the survey below or click here if it doesn't appear for you. We may use your answers in a future article on The Local and reserve the right to edit answers for length, clarity and house style.
Everything you need to know about travelling in Sweden this Easter

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

If you’re travelling by train Sweden usually schedules railway maintenance work for national holidays, as fewer people are travelling to work, and Easter – with the arrival of warmer temperatures – tends to be the start of the rail works season, at least in the southern half of the country.
Ask the expert: What makes Sweden such a coffee culture?

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Paul O'Mahony

Our guest this week is also a specialist on coffee, the hot drink of choice in a country where the habit of consuming coffee and cake is so ingrained that it has sparked global interest in Swedish fika culture. But just how central is fika to social and workplace life in Sweden, what’s the quality of the coffee like in comparison to other countries, and why are Swedes so loyal to the regional coffee brands that are dotted around the country?
Sweden was on the road to economic recovery - then Trump happened

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

"We had good conditions for kickstarting the economy, but then this happened, which we've spoken about a lot ‒ the trade war materialised," Svantesson said, while adding that President Donald Trump's actions have damaged trust in the US. "What we're experiencing now is something we've never seen before." According to Svantesson, the US' decision to raise tariffs has essentially broken the positive trend in the economy which began at the end of last year.
What do we know about Sweden's 2025 spring budget so far?

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

What is the spring amendment budget? The spring amendment budget (vårändringsbudgeten) is usually mainly used to tweak or add bits and pieces to Sweden’s main annual budget, which was presented last autumn. This year's spring amendment budget will be submitted to parliament on April 15th. What do we know so far about what’s in it?
Why some outdoor bars in Sweden can no longer serve alcohol

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Emma Löfgren

Last year, the administrative court of appeal in Gothenburg rejected an application for an alcohol licence from a pub in Karlstad, central Sweden, several news sites report. The reason was that Swedish legislation on alcohol licensing mentions that pubs or restaurants need to have a venue with some kind of seating arrangement, which the court interpreted as specifically requiring indoor seating in order to get a licence. This is now having repercussions ahead of the summer season.
Who will be affected by Sweden's plans to abolish permanent residency for some immigrants?

1 week ago | thelocal.se | Becky Waterton

What did the inquiry say? The inquiry called for making it possible to reject asylum applications in more cases than what is currently permitted, as well as allowing the Migration Agency to declare an unfounded asylum application as “clearly unfounded”. This would mean that the applicant has to leave the country, and would also mean, if they choose to appeal, that they are unable to stay in the country while their appeal is being handled.