Far-right Sweden Democrats Poised to Play Huge Part in Sweden's Next Government | DW News

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Swedish PM Concedes Election Defeat to Bloc Including Far-right Sweden Democrats

THE GUARDIAN: Loose coalition of SD and centre-right parties wins majority of three in parliament

Magdalena Andersson pointed out that the Social Democrats remained Sweden’s largest party.Photograph: Jessica Gow/EPA
The leader of Sweden’s incumbent Social Democrats conceded defeat in the country’s knife-edge election on Wednesday, handing victory to a loose bloc of rightwing parties that includes the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD).

The prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, called a press conference at which she accepted defeat, while pointing out that the Social Democrats remained Sweden’s largest party with more than 30% of the vote – and that the majority in parliament for the right bloc was very slim. » | David Crouch in Gothenburg | Wednesday, Spetember 14, 2022

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Swedish Election: Far right Makes Gains but Overall Result on Knife-edge

THE GUARDIAN: Sweden Democrats become second biggest party after vote on Sunday


The far-right Sweden Democrats party was the big winner in the country’s election on Sunday, increasing its share of the vote by two to three percentage points and becoming the second largest party, but the overall result was too close to call as counting continued.

With 95% of votes counted, the rightwing bloc had 49.7% of the vote, which would give it a majority of one seat in parliament over the incumbent leftwing bloc.

Exit polls on Sunday night at first suggested a narrow victory for the Social Democrats and their centre-left allies. But as the votes were counted the tally swung towards the right. » | David Crouch in Gothernburg | Monday, September 12, 2022

Sweden's Gun Crime Epidemic

Jul 4, 2022 Sweden, once seen as a safe and progressive nation, is now the epicentre of gun violence in Europe. With 342 shootings last year, many of these deadly shootings don’t make the news, leaving it to citizens to document these cases. With gangs and drugs driving the bloodshed, we explore the radical solutions proposed that could change Sweden forever.

The Only 8 Male Footballers Who Dared to Come Out as Gay as of February 2020

Feb 9, 2020 • Only 8 male football players have come out as gay. There can be extremely negative consequences for male footballers who come out. Mocking, insults: homophobia is widespread in men's football, and that clearly explains why only 8 male players have come out as gay.

Gay footballers are afraid to come out, says Sweden's Ekdal: The 30-year-old midfielder believes the hostile atmosphere towards other sexual orientations could put kids off from playing the sport / Sampdoria and Sweden midfielder Albin Ekdal has expressed his frustration that players are still reluctant to come out as homosexual in the modern football world. »

Recently, Josh Cavallo came out. Check it out here.

Russia Warns That It Would Be a 'Mistake' for Finland and Sweden to Join Nato - BBC News

May 14, 2022 • Russia has said Finland and Sweden's entry into Nato would lead to a militarisation of the Baltic region.

Finland and Sweden are both expected to make a formal request to join the Western alliance, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö that joining Nato and abandoning Finland's neutral status would be a "mistake."

Putin also said there was no threat to Finland's security, with which Russia shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border.

The Russian foreign ministry has indicated there will be retaliation, and the country's decision to suspend electricity supplies to Finland is being seen as an early sign of this.

Finland Must Apply to Join Nato without Delay, Say President and PM

THE GUARDIAN: Sauli Niinistö and Sanna Marin make call after support in country for move trebles since Ukraine war

Sauli Niinistö (right) and Sanna Marin. ‘We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly,’ they said. Photograph: Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images
Finland must apply to join Nato without delay in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, its president and prime minister have said, confirming a historic change in the Nordic country’s security policy after decades of military non-alignment.

Sauli Niinistö and Sanna Marin made the call in a joint statement, adding: “We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”

Nato membership would strengthen Finland’s security, the two leaders said, and as a member of Nato: “Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership as a matter of urgency.”

Finland shares an 810-mile (1,300km) border with Russia and has long viewed joining the US-led alliance as an unnecessary provocation of Moscow, but Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February has led to a profound shift in its thinking. » | Jon Henley | Thursday, May 12, 2022

NATO will Finnland und Schweden schnell aufnehmen: Die Entscheidung, ob Finnland und Schweden in die NATO aufgenommen werden, soll noch vor dem Gipfel im Juni in Madrid fallen. Das Bündnis will so ein Zeichen der Entschlossenheit an Russland senden – und bereitet sich schon auf Provokationen vor. »

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What Would It Mean If Finland and Sweden Join Nato? - BBC News

Apr 28, 2022 • Finland and Sweden are said to be considering a joint bid to join Nato despite fears of retaliation from Russia.

Stockholm and Helsinki have long pursued policies of military neutrality to avoid conflict with regional powers.

But Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said "everything had changed" when Russia attacked Ukraine and told reporters that Helsinki must to be "prepared for all kinds of actions from Russia".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed that Moscow would have to "rebalance the situation" with its own measures if the Nato bid went ahead.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has said it would be "useful" for Sweden and Finland to launch joint Nato membership bids, but added that no fixed date had been set for any potential application.

The BBC's Ros Atkins explains the latest developments.

Unrest in Sweden over Planned Quran Burnings

Rioting continued on Sunday in Norrköping | EPA
BBC: Clashes have taken place for a fourth day in several Swedish cities, sparked by the apparent burning of a Quran by a far-right, anti-immigrant group.

Local media said three people were injured in the eastern city of Norrköping on Sunday when police fired warning shots at rioters.

Several vehicles were set on fire and at least 17 people were arrested.

On Saturday, vehicles including a bus were set on fire in the southern city of Malmo during a far-right rally.

Earlier, the governments of Iran and Iraq summoned Swedish envoys to protest about the burning.

Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan, who leads the Stram Kurs, or Hard Line, movement said he had burned Islam's most sacred text and would repeat the action.

At least 16 police officers were reported to have been injured and several police vehicles destroyed in unrest on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in places where the far-right group planned events, including in the suburbs of Stockholm and in the cities of Linköping and Norrköping. » | BBC | Sunday, April 17, 2022

Finland and Sweden May Join NATO - What about Ukraine? | Ayman

Apr 16, 2022 • If part of Putin’s strategy in invading Ukraine was to scare European countries out of wanting to join NATO, that plan has backfired. But if Finland and Sweden may now get a green light on membership, Ayman and former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder discuss: Why didn't Ukraine?

Russia Warns of Nuclear Weapons in Baltic if Sweden and Finland Join Nato

THE GUARDIAN: ‘No more talk of any nuclear-free status for the Baltic,’ senior member of security council says

‘The balance must be restored’ in the Baltic, says Dmitry Medvedev (right), pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2020. Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA
Moscow has said it will be forced to strengthen its defences in the Baltic if Finland and Sweden join Nato, including by deploying nuclear weapons, as the war against Ukraine entered its seventh week and the country braced for a major attack in the east.

The Russian former president Dmitry Medvedev, a senior member of Russia’s security council, said on Thursday that all its forces in the region would be bolstered if the two Nordic countries joined the US-led alliance.

Finland and Sweden are deliberating over whether to abandon decades of military non-alignment and join Nato, with the two Nordic countries’ leaders saying Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine had changed Europe’s “whole security landscape”.

Their accession to the alliance would more than double Russia’s land border with Nato members, Medvedev said. “Naturally, we will have to reinforce these borders” by bolstering ground, air and naval defences in the region, he said. » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondent | Thursday, April 14, 2022

Sweden Sends Troops to Baltic Island as Russian Navy Steps up Presence | DW News

Jan 22, 2022 • Russia's threatening stance against Ukraine is sparking concerns that Moscow may also be willing to use force elsewhere.

Sweden has sent troops to its Baltic Sea island of Gotland, following an increase in Russian naval activity in nearby waters. The island is strategically located off the coast of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad - some analysts have likened it to an aircraft carrier in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Sweden is not a member of NATO and therefore not covered by the Alliance's defense clause. DW correspondent Teri Schulz spoke with Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.

Swedish PM Stefan Löfven Loses No-confidence Vote

THE GUARDIAN: Premier is first in country’s history to be ousted by opposition MPs and has a week to decide next move

Sweden’s parliament has backed a no-confidence vote in the centre-left prime minister, Stefan Löfven, making him the first premier to be ousted by opposition MPs in the country’s history and giving him a week to resign or call snap elections.

The vote, called by the nationalist Sweden Democrats barely a year before a general election, plunges Sweden back into political uncertainty four years after the last inconclusive poll produced a deadlocked parliament and led to months of negotiations to form a coalition. » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondent | Monday, June 21, 2021

Swedish Navy Returns to Vast Underground HQ amid Russia Fears

THE GUARDIAN: Cavernous docks can shelter warships, with miles of tunnels, offices, and a hospital

Sweden’s navy HQ is returning to a vast underground cold war fortress designed to withstand a nuclear attack, in what has been seen as a defensive move against a resurgent Russia.

After a 25-year absence, the navy will once again be commanded from beneath billions of tonnes of granite as the country strives to build up its defences in response to the perceived threat from Moscow. » | David Crouch in Gothenburg | Monday, September 30, 2019

Sweden Hits Back at Donald Trump in Row over A$AP Rocky Detention

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-Swedish PM tells US president political interference in rule of law is off limits

Sweden has hit back at Donald Trump after the US president reacted angrilyto a decision to press assault charges against the American rapper A$AP Rocky, insisting its independent judicial system must do its work.

“The rule of the law applies to everyone equally and is exercised by an independent judiciary,” tweeted former prime minister Carl Bildt. “That’s the way it is in the US, and that’s certainly the way it is in Sweden. Political interference in the process is distinctly off limits. Clear?”

Trump said on Thursday he was very disappointed in Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. He said “Sweden has let our African American community down in the United States. Give A$AP Rocky his freedom.”

The US president also said: “We do so much for Sweden but it doesn’t seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem.” » | Jon Henley | Friday, July 26, 2019

Sweden Reopens Rape Case against Julian Assange

THE GUARDIAN: Lawyer for woman involved in allegations from 2010 asked for investigation to resume

Swedish prosecutors are to reopen an investigation into a rape allegation against Julian Assange.

The deputy director of public prosecutions, Eva-Marie Persson, announced the decision at a press conference on Monday, saying: “I have today taken the decision to reopen the preliminary investigation.”

She said the circumstances now allowed for an extradition to Sweden from Britain, and a new interview with Assange should be held.

She said: “After reviewing the preliminary investigation carried out so far, I find that there still exist grounds for Julian Assange to be suspected on probable cause of the charge of rape. It is my assessment that a new questioning of Assange is required.” » | Caroline Davies | Monday, May 13, 2019

(Un)Welcome: Sweden's Rise of the Right

In this installment of CBSN Originals’ ongoing examination at how migration is reshaping the world, Adam Yamaguchi travels to Sweden to examine how a record influx of migrants has coincided with the recently welcoming and politically progressive nation's swift shift to the right.

Sweden's Electorate Lurches to the Right

Sweden's Elections Swing Right: Despite its reputation as a cosy left-leaning country, Sweden’s liberal immigration policy has divided opinion within its population. Now, the general election has brought simmering resentments to the fore.

How I See the US After Living in Sweden for 6 Years

Sweden Struck by Co-ordinated Arson Attacks 3 Weeks before Elections

A string of arson attacks has rocked Sweden, 3 weeks ahead of September elections. Three suspects have been arrested, one of them in Turkey. It's widely thought that the timing of the fires, which appear to have been co-ordianted, was not accidental. Speculation is rife as to who carried out the attacks and what impact they may have on the electoral race.