Swedish party leaders face off over asylum policy and climate investments
Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson and Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson clashed in a fiery debate on public broadcaster SVT's news show Aktuellt.
Debating how open Sweden should be to asylum seekers, far-right leader Åkesson took aim at Andersson, the leader of the centre-left opposition. He argued that her position that Sweden should be "slightly less open" to asylum seekers is incompatible with the stances of her potential coalition partners, the Left Party ("somewhat more open") and the Green Party ("much more open").
"It's just not credible," said Åkesson, who believes Sweden should be "much less open". "Magdalena Andersson can't promise anything until she unites a team that jointly sets a direction."
Andersson pointed back to 2016, noting that the Social Democrats tightened immigration policy even while in government with the Greens. "There is very broad support in parliament for a strict migration policy," she said.
Not including Ukrainian citizens, Sweden approved 1,957 applications for protection last year and rejected 3,613.
The debate also heated up over state investments in green industrial projects, which the Sweden Democrats oppose. "Keep your paws off," Åkesson warned, calling the projects "doomed". Andersson hit back, warning that such an attitude from a government party would scare off foreign investors, costing Sweden jobs and prosperity.
Swedish vocabulary: credible – trovärdig
Swedish bars gear up for World Cup nights as licensing rules ease
More than 400 pubs and restaurants across Sweden are gearing up to screen late-night matches during the men's football World Cup. According to the hospitality industry organisation Visita, the scrapping of regulations that required venues to serve food alongside alcohol has increased venue interest in staying open into the morning.
A survey sent by Visita to all the country's municipalities reveals that 410 restaurants, pubs and other businesses have applied for extended licensing hours during the tournament.
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Nearly 90 percent of these applications come from venues that already hold a permanent alcohol licence but want to extend their opening hours. But around 50 applications have been submitted by businesses without a permanent licence.
"It's fantastic to see such an enormous amount of interest, and it proves that abolishing the strict food and kitchen requirements makes it much easier to stay open for special occasions," said Visita CEO Christer Fogelmarck in a statement.
Swedish vocabulary: an alcohol licence – serveringstillstånd
Will it rain on Midsummer? SMHI releases first weather forecast
Sweden's national weather agency SMHI has released its first, albeit still highly uncertain, forecast for Midsummer's Eve.
"If we go by the current charts, it looks like it might turn out to be pretty classic summer weather. We are looking at sunny spells and temperatures of just over 20C in Götaland and Svealand, and slightly cooler further north with rain showers," SMHI meteorologist Sverker Hellström told the TT news agency about the most important day of the Swedish summer calendar.
"It could well hold up for Midsummer's Day too," he added.
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So how much can we trust SMHI's ten-day forecast?
"It's obviously very unpredictable. On the other hand, you could say that most Midsummers tend to look exactly like this, so it's hardly an unlikely weather trend," said Hellström.
Swedish vocabulary: a forecast – en prognos
Stockholm transport disruption expected this Saturday for royal golden wedding
Stockholm's public transport operator SL is warning commuters of cancellations, suspended stops and diverted routes between 12.30pm and 5.10pm on Saturday.
The disruptions come as the capital prepares to celebrate the King and Queen's 50th wedding anniversary.
The golden wedding celebrations will feature a royal cortege winding its way through the city centre, travelling from Djurgården via Strandvägen, Birger Jarlsgatan, Stureplan, Kungsgatan, Sveavägen, Sergels torg and Hamngatan to Kungsträdgården.
A number of bus routes will be affected and diverted. Meanwhile, the Spårväg City tram will be completely suspended between approximately 1pm and 3pm.
The royal celebrations will also impact commuter ferry lines 80, 82, and 84. In addition, the Slussen ferry dock will be completely closed from June 12th-14th due to a state visit.
Swedish vocabulary: a golden wedding – ett guldbröllop
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