Moderate Party leader asked to try to form a government

Parliamentary speaker Andreas Norlén has given Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson the task of trying to form a government, after centre-left Prime Minister Stefan Löfven resigned on Monday following a no-confidence vote.

Kristersson, whose party falls on the right of the political spectrum, has been named as sonderingsperson. This means he has the task of speaking to other party leaders to see if he is able to get enough support for a government, either through forming a coalition or by opposition parties agreeing to tolerate, or not vote against, the proposed government.

Norlén said he would give Kristersson three days for this task, reporting back to the speaker on Friday

Swedish vocabulary: Moderate Party – Moderaterna

Parents face fines for keeping children home from school during Covid-19

A couple in Malmö have been threatened with a fine of 700 kronor per school day if they continue to keep their two children home from school. They have done so for large parts of 2020 and the spring term of 2021, due to concerns that the school is taking insufficient measures against Covid-19, according to local newspaper Sydsvenskan. 

According to the paper, the parents requested distance education which was refused, and the parents have reported the school to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, which decided not to try the case.

Swedish vocabulary: fines – böter

Sweden out of the Euros after 2-1 loss to Ukraine

Ukraine knocked Sweden out of the Euro 2020 football championship with a dramatic goal in the 121st minute on Tuesday night.

Sweden had equalised before half-time thanks to Emil Forsberg but a goalless second half led to extra time, before Ukraine snagged a win just before the game would have gone to penalties.

Swedish vocabulary: loss – förlust

Covid-19 vaccines open up to younger age groups in major regions

As of later today, all adults aged over 18 will be able to book a Covid-19 vaccine in Västra Götaland, a month ahead of schedule, as The Local reported yesterday.

Eligible age groups are also being expanded in Stockholm and Skåne, and part of the reason is that people in the bigger regions have not been booking at the rates expected or have booked their vaccine in a region they don’t reside in. In Stockholm, vaccination opened on Tuesday to people born in 1991 or earlier, and in Skåne booking will open to those born in 1996 or earlier as of this evening.

Swedish vocabulary: younger – yngre