What needs to happen now for Sweden to resolve its government crisis?

The leader of Sweden’s Centre Party announced on Wednesday that the Party was dropping its demand for market rents to be introduced after the issue led to the government being toppled earlier this week.

Leader Annie Lööf wants to renegotiate the so-called January Deal between the Social Democrat-Green government, Centre and Liberal Parties, saying that the success of a no-confidence motion showed there was no broad support for market rents (one of the 73 points in the deal). But she is still not open to working with the Left Party.

The Centre Party and Social Democrats have instead urged the Liberal Party to join the negotiations. That party’s leader, Nyamko Sabuni, has said she considers the January Deal over, and instead wants to pursue a right-wing government led by the opposition Moderate Party.

After the weekend, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven must announce whether he is resigning, sparking cross-party talks to form a government, or calling an election.

Swedish vocabulary: Liberal Party – Liberalerna

Will Sweden be able to go ahead with relaxing Covid-19 restrictions next week?

As well as the political crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic is of course still ongoing.

Sweden’s government has set out a plan for gradually easing restrictions, under which the next phase (including extended opening hours for bars and restaurants and more people allowed at events) should take place on July 1st. 

That relies on meeting a number of criteria, including that there should be fewer than 300 people needing hospital care due to Covid-19, and fewer than 70 requiring intensive care for Covid-19. Last week the number of Covid-19 patients in the country’s ICUs dropped to below 100 and as of Thursday morning it was 70. 

The Public Health Agency will hold a press conference later today, so we expect to have an update for you then.

Swedish vocabulary: criteria – kriterier

Who are the best paid state agency heads in Sweden?

A new list shows the salaries paid to the general directors of Sweden’s state agencies after an annual salary review, and the head of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) Lena Erixon takes the top spot with monthly pay of 178,600 kronor before tax.

Second was national police chief Anders Thornberg (173,600 kronor) followed by the director of the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) Nils Öberg at 170,000.

Swedish vocabulary: state agency – myndighet

Happy Midsummer!

For many people in Sweden there’s a three-day weekend to celebrate Midsummer’s Eve tomorrow. This means there will be no Today in Sweden tomorrow, Friday, but we will be back on Monday with daily updates.

Swedish vocabulary: Happy Midsummer – glad midsommar