Sweden to allow new types of bars and pubs
Sweden's towns and cities could see beach bars, wine bars and the occasional beer garden for the first time from this summer, after parliament voted to scrap the requirement that establishments need to have a kitchen to serve alcohol.
When the change comes into force on June 1st, it will open up the possibility for new types of bar to spring up.
The change comes after parliament agreed to abolish the requirement that restaurants must be able to serve cooked food in their own kitchen in order to serve alcohol. The requirement for seating at bars will also be abolished.
"We should have a restaurant and entertainment scene that makes our fantastic capital and all other cities in Sweden vibrant," Christian Carlsson of the Christian Democrats in the parliamentary debate ahead of the decision.
The proposal had broad support in the parliament.
The amendments to the law are expected to more than double the growth of pubs, bars, sports bars and other serving venues that focus more on drinks than on the dining experience.
The number of such so-called entertainment restaurants is expected to increase by 85 per year and by approximately 190 for other restaurants.
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Not everyone is happy about the legislative changes. Many consultation bodies have been critical and expressed concerns about public health, among other things.
"Illness and death do not seem to be a particularly important issue for the Tidö government," said Karin Sundin of the Social Democrats.
The Social Democrats, along with the Left and Green Parties, believe that the consequences of the legislative change have not been sufficiently investigated, but only voted no to one part of the bill — that catering operations should also not have to have their own kitchen in order to obtain a permanent serving permit.
Swedish vocabulary: vinbarer‒ wine bars.
Moderate party releases election slogan: "A fairer Sweden"
The Moderates are heading to the polls this autumn with the message "a fairer Sweden" (ett rättvisare Sverige).
On their national election posters, the Moderates will highlight three government ministers: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer, and Minister of Finance Elisabeth Svantesson.
"It was clear that we would have those three. We are going to the election on the economy and security, so besides Ulf, which was self-evident, it was obvious that it would be Gunnar and Elisabeth," said campaign manager Martin Borgs. "Effort should pay off and crime should be punished," said Borgs of the Moderates' election pitch to voters.
But although Swedish residents who aren't yet citizens can't vote in national elections, they have a chance to have their voices heard: the Moderates aim to carry out 600,000 conversations with potential voters until election day.
"Conversations, conversations and conversations. That is the idea of the whole campaign," Borgs said.
Swedish vocabulary: valkampanj ‒ election campaign.
Legal watchdog slams government bill abolishing permanent residency for refugees
The Council on Legislation, an independent government body that scrutinises potential new laws and provides expert opinion on their legality, has sharply criticised a government bill that would eliminate permanent residence permits for certain groups and make other adjustments to refugee law in Sweden while still aligning with minimum levels under the EU's Migration and Asylum Pact.
"Immigration is about people, adults and children," the council writes in its published opinion. "A state governed by the rule of law presupposes that the law shows respect for everyone within the country's borders, including those who are not citizens of the country."
The council went on to write that the government's proposed law "is characterized by a distinctly mechanical approach to the [EU] Migration and Asylum Pact. It appears that the government does not adopt a refugee perspective or look at the individual at any point."
"What general humanity demands is certainly an ethical issue, but when it comes to the individual's right to be recognized and thus treated as a refugee, the principles of proportionality that permeate the European Convention and also otherwise characterize the legal order must be taken into account," the council's report continued.
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The law is set to come into force on June 12th of this year. Before that time, changes can be made, including in response to the Council's report. But its recommendations are not binding.
Swedish vocabulary: invandring ‒ immigration (literally, 'in-wandering').
High fire risk in large parts of Sweden
Swedish weather agency SMHI urges the public to be very careful in forests and other natural outdoor spaces due to a high risk of fires in almost all of Sweden.
In snow-free parts of Norrland, there is a high to very high risk of grass fires throughout the day today. Fires are expected to easily start in dry last year's grass, among other things.
In the southern half of the country, including southern Norrland, there is a high risk of forest fires. According to SMHI, people should be very careful when lighting fires and check for any fire bans.
The risk of fires has been recurrently high this spring.
Swedish vocabulary: försiktigt ‒ careful.
Confrontation in parliament corridor after meeting
According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, several sources report that a confrontation took place after yesterday's parliamentary committee meeting where the topic of a re-vote for the contested amendment on transitional rules for citizenship was discussed.
After the meeting, in front of other members and committee staff, Niels Paarup-Petersen of the Centre Party, was confronted by Sweden Democrat Jörgen Grubb, Expressen reports.
According to several people present, Expressen reports, Grubb stood very close to Paarup-Petersen and is said to have told him to be "damn quiet" and "be damn careful".
The situation was described by the informants, who come from several different parties, as threatening.
"I have never experienced anything like this, from any party, ever," Paarup-Petersen told the paper. "The Sweden Democrats show time and time again that they are something else."
Paarup-Petersen is said to have received an apology from another Sweden Democrat higher up in the party who said that the issue will now be handled at group leader level.
"For me, the situation is resolved, but it is of course a matter for the parties to discuss how we should handle it in parliament," Paarup-Petersen said.
Swedish vocabulary: bråk ‒ fight, conflict.
With reporting from TT
Richard Orange, Nordic Editor, The Local
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