Sweden’s PM resigns: What next?

In case you missed it, Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Löfven resigned yesterday, saying that a snap election was “not in the country’s best interests”. Instead, the speaker of parliament will talk to the leader of each party individually today, to see if any potential government would have the support of a parliamentary majority. He will hold a press conference at 4.15pm today to share an update on the situation.

Potential prime ministerial nominees include Löfven, Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson, and Centre Party leader Annie Lööf, all of whom were given the task of trying to break the deadlock after the 2018 election.

Swedish vocabulary: speaker (of parliament) – talman

Hundreds of bears may be shot in licenced hunt

Sweden’s bear population is increasing, which has led regional councils to increase the numbers of the animals that may be killed during the autumn’s licenced hunt. In Jämtland, the number has doubled to 200 this year, in Västerbotten it has been increased from 25 to 85, and in Västernorrland 75 bears may be shot, almost double last year’s number.

The goal of the licenced hunt is to keep populations of certain animals within manageable numbers, and the number of animals that may be killed is reassessed each year. In Jämtland and Västerbotten, for example, the region says that bears pose a risk to reindeer and the reindeer herding industry.

The latest calculation of the bear population, from 2017, showed that there were about 2,900 bears in the country, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Swedish vocabulary: bear – björn

Sweden to go ahead with next stage of Covid-19 re-opening plan

From Thursday July 1st, Sweden will ease some of its Covid-19 restrictions, allowing more guests at events and relaxing the rules in place at restaurants, after the Public Health Agency gave the government the go-ahead because key benchmarks relating to infection levels and hospitalisations with Covid-19 had been met.

Restaurants and pubs will be able to extend their opening times beyond 10.30pm, and for outdoor seating areas the limit on the number of guests per table will be removed.

Swedish vocabulary: opening times – öppettider

Västra Götaland to open up vaccinations to all over-18s

All adults in Västra Götaland aged over 18 will be able to book their Covid-19 vaccine from Wednesday. This is a month ahead of schedule, with the plans being changed due to decrease in booking numbers and to make the process simpler for residents and vaccine providers.

As of today, booking in the region is only open to people born in 1981 or earlier, or adults aged over 18 who are in a Covid-19 risk group. On Wednesday Västra Götaland will join three other regions who have opened up booking to all adults: Norrbotten, Sormland and Västernorrland.

Swedish vocabulary: adults – vuxna