Decision day for PM Stefan Löfven

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven must announce today whether he will resign, sparking cross-party talks to form a new government, or announce a snap election, after his government was brought down by a no-confidence vote last week.

His minority government has been in talks over the Midsummer weekend with the parties whose support it currently relies on, aiming to reach a compromise.

At 9.30am, a press conference was announced by Löfven for 10.15am, so we will bring you the latest updates when we have them. You can also follow the announcement (in Swedish) on the government’s YouTube channel here.

Swedish vocabulary: to resign – avgå

Centre Party rejects budget offer from Left

Ahead of Löfven’s decision, the political landscape appears fragile. Currently Löfven’s Social Democrat-Green government is supported by the right-of-centre Centre and Liberal parties as well as the Left Party, but the Liberal Party has stuck to earlier statements that it will instead work with the right-wing bloc.

That means the government would need all Centre and Liberal MPs, plus one independent, to scrape together the 175 needed for majority. Centre Party leader Annie Lööf has reiterated her position, refusing to work with either the Left Party or Sweden Democrats, even after the former offered to drop its demands for tax increases.

Swedish vocabulary: majority – majoritet

Denmark opens border to Sweden

As of last Saturday afternoon, Sweden has been added to Denmark’s list of ‘green’ countries, whereas before the travel rules varied between different Swedish regions.

The change means Danes may travel to all parts of Sweden even without a “worthy purpose”, for example they may now travel for tourism. And people may travel the opposite route – they will still need proof of vaccination, antibodies or a negative Covid-19 test to enter Denmark, but requirements for additional testing and isolation have been dropped. 

Swedish vocabulary: border – gräns

More non-EU countries to be exempted from Sweden’s entry ban

Sweden’s ban on entry into the country from non-EU countries still applies until at least the end of August, but more countries have been exempted. From June 30th, it will be possible to travel to Sweden from Albania, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Macau, North Macedonia, Serbia, Taiwan and the USA regardless of purpose of travel, although travellers from these countries will still need to show a negative Covid-19 test in order to enter (unless they are exempt from the requirement, for example if they live in Sweden).

And for people travelling in the other direction, the same countries have been exempted from Sweden’s advice against non-essential travel, which is not legally binding but can have implications for things like travel insurance. Several other countries are already exempt from both lists, including all EU/EEA countries, Australia, Japan, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.