Richard Orange
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Articles by Richard Orange
Sweden starts counting final batch of votes in tight election
The Swedish Election Authority explained in a press release that an unusually large number of overseas votes and the late delivery of many early votes to polling stations had delayed the vote count, meaning it will not be completed until Thursday. "We are expecting a greater number of votes this year than in previous elections.
Swedish politics professor: 'I don't see a plausible alternative to the left-leaning quartet' Original
In some ways the most surprising result of the election is that the three government parties, the Moderates, Christian Democrats, and Liberals, all increased their share of the vote compared to 2022, while the far-right Sweden Democrats lost 3 percentage points and the left-wing Social Democrats lost 2 percentage points. How do you explain the government parties' success? Nicholas Aylott: That's a difficult one.
Social Democrats demand that Swedish PM concedes defeat and resigns Original
Tobias Baudin, party secretary for the Social Democrats, told journalists on Tuesday that if the election result remains as indicated when the vote count is completed on Thursday, with 176 seats for the opposition and 173 for the Tidö parties backing the current government, Kristersson will have to offer his resignation.
Vote count in Swedish election will only be completed on Thursday
The Swedish Election Authority explained in a press release that an unusually large number of overseas votes and the late delivery of many early votes to polling stations had delayed the vote count, meaning it will not be completed until Thursday. "We are expecting a greater number of votes this year than in previous elections.
Centre Party 'ready to start talks' with Social Democrats on new Swedish government
In a statement to the Expressen newspaper, party secretary Hannes Hervieu said that his party was ready to build a "strong and effective government" with the Social Democrats if the opposition parties retain their lead over the four right-wing parties. Hervieu reiterated his party's reluctance to join a government that includes the so-called 'fringe parties', or ytterkantspartier, which include both the far-right Sweden Democrats and the Left Party.
Top Sweden Democrat blames election setback on refusal to freeze citizenships
In a post on X made after 1am, Tobias Andersson, one of the party's top up-and-coming politicians, laid the blame for the left-wing opposition slender lead on the votes of foreigners who have become citizens over the past four years. "The Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals refused to halt the rollout of citizenships when we won the election," he wrote. "If we lose, it will be because we granted 200,000+ citizenships and they, in turn, voted left.
What does Sweden's unexpectedly close election result mean for foreigners? Original
As Sweden wakes up bleary eyed from a roller-coaster election night, it's not clear that the exhausting exercise has brought the country much closer to a new government. At the time of writing, a government with the four Tidö parties – the Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals – is off the cards (two seats short of a majority), but so is the mittenregering ("middle government") favoured by the Centre Party (six seats short).
BREAKING: Left-wing bloc looks set to win power in Sweden according to exit poll Original
According to the SVT Valu exit poll, which is based on interviews outside polling stations with between 10,000 and 15,000 voters, the four left-wing parties look set to win a combined 51.3 percent of the vote compared to 46.8 percent for the right-wing bloc, a solid lead of 4.5 percentage points. The rival exit poll published by TV4 gave the left-wing opposition a slightly smaller lead of 4.3 points.
Exit polls and projections: Why Swedish elections really aren't over until all votes are in
Polls Opinion polling in the week leading up to the 2026 Swedish election has indicated an extraordinary comeback for the right-wing parties, which have lagged behind the left-wing bloc in polls since shortly after the election in 2022. In May, the highly respected pre-election poll from Statistics Sweden gave the four opposition parties a massive 12-point lead. In two polls this week, from Ipsos and Infostat, this lead had sunk to 0.3 percent and 0.8 percent respectively.
'A very low standard': Left-wing voters in low spirits on Election Day in Sweden Original
Outside the election booth, the only campaigners handing out voting papers came from the Left Party and the Green Party, reflecting these two parties' strong grip on this part of Malmö, which The Local visited to get a sense of the mood among opposition voters. "It looks like it's going to be a tight race," said Vera, who was handing out leaflets for the Green Party.
IN PICTURES: Sweden on tenterhooks as party leaders vote Original
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson arrived at his local polling station in Strängnäs, along with his wife Birgitta Ed, his two daughters, and their dog Winston. "This is going to be an extremely, extremely exciting evening to follow," he told journalists waiting outside the polling station, saying he felt "a great sense of hope". His Social Democrat challenger, Magdalena Andersson, arrived to vote at her local polling station in Nacka alongside her husband, the economist Richard Friberg.
What you need to know about the local and regional elections in Malmö
A poll for the Sydsvenskan newspaper found that the Social Democrats and Green Party have both increased their support among voters in Malmö since the 2022 election, from 30.7 to 32.2 percent and 5.5 percent to 7.7 percent respectively. The far-right Sweden Democrats have also increased their support in the city from 14.9 percent to 16.7 percent.
How much are Sweden's parties pledging to cut (or raise) foreigners' tax bills?
We've only focused on taxes on income, and have left out the parties' proposals for sales, corporate and energy taxes. Please alert us in the comments if we've missed any important proposals out. At least 5,000 kronor extra a month for an 'ordinary' family with children This is the Moderate Party's headline campaign pledge, and while the number is big and satisfyingly round, it's worth prodding it a bit.
Can you build your own Swedish government with The Local's election game?
The latest poll, carried out by Novus for TV4 and Göteborgs-Posten, gave the Liberal Party a whopping 5.8 percent, enough to clear the 4 percent threshold by some margin. Novus didn't publish numbers on how many seats this would give each party in parliament, so we have used ChatGPT to work out the number, by applying Sweden's modified Sainte-Laguë calculation system (jämkade uddatalsmetoden) to the Novus poll results. We can't vouch for the accuracy of the calculations.
Opposition's lead sinks to 3.2 points in new Swedish election poll Original
In the poll, carried out by Indikator for Swedish broadcaster SR, the left-wing opposition bloc has the backing of 50.8 percent of voters, compared to 47.6 percent, a lead of only 3.2 percentage points, down from the 4.8 lead the parties had in the previous week's Indikator poll. In addition, the Liberal party has 5.4 percent of the vote, up 3.2 percentage points from a week previously.
Users need to approach any outreach they receive from Trezor with calm caution
Following the news story that Trezor, a cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker, warned customers on Wednesday that threat actors who breached its third-party email provider are targeting them in phishing attacks, Richard Orange, VP EMEA, Abnormal AI had the following to say. “Crypto is an extremely desirable target for threat actors because of the value of the data, and third-party suppliers are often targeted because of more restrictions around investments for security.
UPDATED: Make your own Swedish government with The Local's election widget
The latest poll, carried out by Novus for TV4 and Göteborgs-Posten, gave the Liberal Party a whopping 5.8 percent, enough to clear the 4 percent threshold by some margin. Novus didn't publish numbers on how many seats this would give each party in parliament, so we have used ChatGPT to work out the number, by applying Sweden's modified Sainte-Laguë calculation system (jämkade uddatalsmetoden) to the Novus poll results. We can't vouch for the accuracy of the calculations.
Migration court rules that new Swedish citizenship requirements apply to pending applications
In its first ruling on an appeal to the new citizenship requirements that came into force on June 6th, the Migration Court in Malmö argued that the government and the parliament had clearly intended that the new requirements should apply to pending case, and argued that such retroactive legislation did not conflict with either Swedish or national law. The man appealing, who comes from a non-EU country and has lived in Sweden since 2019, applied for citizenship in June 2025.
Swedish Liberal Party soars over parliamentary threshold in new poll
According to the poll by Novus for the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper and the broadcaster TV4, support for the party has leapt by 1.9 percentage points in a couple of weeks to take it to 5.8 percent, the highest level of support the pasty has seen since the 2022 election.
What you need to know about the local and regional elections in Gothenburg
Who's ahead in the polls? The left bloc right now looks set to increase their hold on both the city and the surrounding region, with the Social Democrats, Green Party and Left party in some polls on track to win their own majority in Gothenburg, meaning they will no longer need to rule in coalition with the Centre Party.
Voting in Sweden: 'I felt betrayed by the Moderates on transitional rules'
In a series of articles, The Local interviews foreigners voting in the Swedish election for the first time. Here's our last interview with Irish citizen Warren O'Neill – and here's our guide to voting in Sweden. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? I moved to Sweden in 2020, just before the Corona pandemic, which was amazing timing for an international move.
Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday
Social Democrats pledge to establish "crisis commission" over Pisa slump The Social Democrats have pledged to launch a crisis commission, looking at the terrible Pisa results, which the party said should be a "wake-up call". "Swedish students have lost knowledge equivalent to a whole year of learning," Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson told TT. "If I am trusted to form a government, I want to appoint a national crisis commission as soon as possible.
Top Swedish investor slams Wallenberg's 'shameful' election scaremongering
In an article in the Dagens Nyheter newspaper on Tuesday, Weil blasted his "colleagues in the business world" for warning of the dangers of a coming left-wing government while turning a blind eye to the risks of far-right nationalism. "That representatives from the Confederation of Swedish Industry are engaging in such scaremongering is deeply irresponsible," he wrote.
OPINION: Has Jimmie Åkesson played the Swedish media like a fiddle?
Whatever you think of Jimmie Åkesson’s politics – and I suspect many readers of The Local don’t think much of the Sweden Democrats’ leader – it’s hard not to conclude that he is a master manipulator of the media. With only a few days left until the election, the polls have shifted dramatically in the right-wing bloc’s favour.
Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Sweden's new mobile phone alert system 'failed to deliver' SE-Alert – the mobile phone-based emergency alert system tested in Stockholm on Monday – failed to deliver messages to all residents, Mikael Frisell, director-general of the Swedish Civil Defence Agency, has told the TT newswire.
What are the issues in the regional and city elections in Stockholm? Original
At the municipal level in Stockholm, this year's election is about the cost and availability of housing (particularly for young people), tax cuts and spending, efforts to prevent the recruitment of young people into criminal gangs, and the possibility of the far-right Sweden Democrats playing a role in a right-wing coalition government.
'We don't want people who are integrated in Sweden to be forced to leave'
In the third of our interviews with Swedish parties' migration spokespeople, Ida Karkiainen told The Local that the party wanted to find a way to stop people who have lived in Sweden for many years from being deported – whether they are young adults who grew up in Sweden, British citizens, or elderly former asylum seekers. "This is one thing that we will look into immediately and it will be a question for a fast-track inquiry as well," she said.
'We don't want people who are integrated in Sweden to be forced to leave'
In the third of our interviews with Swedish parties' migration spokespeople, Ida Karkiainen told The Local that the party wanted to find a way to stop people who have lived in Sweden for many years from being deported – whether they are young adults who grew up in Sweden, British citizens, or elderly former asylum seekers. "This is one thing that we will look into immediately and it will be a question for a fast-track inquiry as well," she said.
EXCLUSIVE: EU probed Sweden over deportations of vulnerable Britons
Following the reporting of the cases of George 'Horace' Mason, who faces deportation despite requiring 24-hour care for Alzheimer's, and the retired 78-year-old nurse Joyce Thomas, the Commission issued an urgent, 24-hour demand for answers on what the Swedish authorities had done to help such vulnerable individuals, according to internal emails obtained by The Local through a freedom of information request.
Centre Party promises to scrap salary threshold for Swedish work permits
At a press conference in Stockholm, party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist pointed out that labour migration had more than halved between 2023, when the first higher salary threshold was imposed, and 2025, reducing Sweden's GDP by 30 billion kronor and costing the government 10 billion kronor in tax revenue.
Russian partner of top Sweden Democrat accused of pro-Putin posts Original
According to an investigation by anti-racism magazine Expo, Gustav Gellerbrant's partner – who moved from Russia to Sweden in 2006 – shared articles and posts featuring Russian narratives between 2015 and 2017. These came from Russian state bodies, state-controlled outlet RT, and other channels known for Russian propaganda and disinformation.
Social Democrats plan huge inquiry to clean up Swedish immigration law Original
Social Democrat migration spokesperson Ida Karkiainen told The Local in an interview that if they gain power after the election on September 13th, the party and its allies would launch a broad review covering the Aliens Act and Sweden's wider immigration legislation, noting that several reforms pushed through in the spring had been heavily criticised by experts.
Social Democrats promise new 'expat welcome desk' in Stockholm
The idea for the new office, a kind of one-stop shop where new arrivals get advice on handling bureaucracy and settling in, is influenced by similar offerings in rival cities such as Copenhagen and Helsinki.
How to appeal if your application for Swedish citizenship is rejected
Getting the decision You'll usually get two letters from the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) about your decision, sent on consecutive days, which are sent as a physical letter to the address where you are registered as living in Sweden. One will contain the full details of the decision, and the other is a confirmation (kontrollmeddelande) that they've sent you the decision.
Swedish right-wing bloc shows united front after weekend spat
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson and Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch stood side-by-side at a press conference for the four-party right-wing Tidö bloc in Stockholm on Wednesday, after Åkesson caused a spat by arguing in a speech on Saturday that he was not sure of Busch's loyalty.
'Sweden has fulfilled its commitments': Migration minister defends Brexit deportations Original
In his written answer, Migration Minister Johan Forssell said that the Migration Agency had carried out an analysis of its application of the UK Withdrawal Agreement and come to the conclusion that it had applied the law fairly and correctly. "The Migration Agency has followed up on the application of the Withdrawal Agreement and the assessment is that Sweden has fulfilled its commitments. This assessment is shared by the Commission," Forssell wrote.
Swedish opposition parties' lead collapses in shock new poll Original
In the new poll by Novus for TV4, the opposition parties have a combined 50.3 percent of the vote, the pro-government Tidö parties have 47.7 percent, while 'other parties' are on 2 percent.
Sweden's Social Democrats pledge 'dental care reform of the century'
The Social Democrats are promising to extend the high-cost protection for dental care recently awarded to people over the age of 67 and extend it to cover the entire adult population so that no one has to pay more than 10 percent of the reference price for many types of dental treatment. The party also plans to bring back free dental care for 19- to 23-year-olds, which was withdrawn by the current government.
Chef worked for more than three years in Sweden after missing Brexit deadline Original
Since January 2022, when he, entirely without realising it, had lost his right to live and work in Sweden, he had continued working as head chef at two restaurants at Stockholm's Gröna Lund amusement park, paying taxes, and looking after his two children. "I was living in a bubble," he shrugs when asked how he possibly could have missed something so momentous as Brexit. "I live in a Swedish world. I speak Swedish. I work in Swedish. I talk Swedish with my kids.
Sunday 'fika' fails to heal spat between right-wing Swedish leaders
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson on Monday demanded an official answer from Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch on what the "exceptional situations" were in which she might be willing to vote for Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister. "This is something that needs to be sorted out before I can continue to lend my and the Sweden Democrats' credibility to the Christian Democrats.
KEY POINTS: How party election pledges could affect foreigners in Sweden
IMMIGRATION The last four years have seen a dramatic tightening of immigration law, with stricter requirements for citizenship, work permits, and family reunion brought as part of the Tidö government's paradigm shift on migration. So does the opposition plan to roll any of it back, and do the government parties plan to push it further?
Gardener discovers Denmark's largest Viking hoard while digging patio
The finder of the treasure, who wishes to remain anonymous, was clearing stone and gravel in his garden in Rebild when he stumbled on a silver object. "It should have just been a few hours of hard gardening work removing stubborn grass, stones and gravel for a new tiled terrace, but it turned out to be the biggest surprise of my life," he said in a press release from the Museums of North Jutland. “After half an hour of digging, my grip hit something that made a strange sound.
The Local's guide to Sweden's political parties: The Social Democrats Original
Quick facts Party name in Swedish: Socialdemokraterna, Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (sometimes, colloquially, sossarna) Leader: Magdalena Andersson Current number of seats in parliament: 106 (was 107 after '22 election) Vote share in the last election (2022): 30.3 percent Part of the current governing coalition?: No Current ministerial posts: None 2026 election slogan: Det är dags att ta Sverige på allvar – It's time to take Sweden seriously Party background The Social Democratic...
Today in Denmark: A roundup of the latest news on Monday
'People of Danish descent' to fall to below 70 percent of population by 2100 A population projection by the Ministry of Finance has found that 'people of Danish descent' will make up 68.9 percent of the population of Denmark by 2100, down from 83.2 percent today, if current trends continue.
Social Democrats to add vocational training to immigrant Swedish classes
The Social Democrats' immigration spokesperson Lawen Redar wants new arrivals in Sweden to learn vocational skills at the same time as Swedish. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT At a press conference on Friday, the party's integration spokesperson Lawen Redar called for new "combination education" where Swedish language courses are combined with upper-secondary school level vocational training in skills Sweden is short of.
The Local's guide to Sweden's political parties: The Sweden Democrats
Quick facts Party name in Swedish: Sverigedemokraterna Leader: Jimmie Åkesson Current number of seats in parliament: 70 (was 73 after '22 election) Vote share in the last election (2022): 20.54 percent Part of the current governing coalition?
The Local's guide to Sweden's political parties: The Moderates
Quick facts Party name in Swedish: Moderaterna Leader: Ulf Kristersson Current number of seats in parliament: 66 (was 68 after '22 election) Vote share in the last election (2022): 19.10 percent Part of the current governing coalition?: Yes.
The Local's guide to Sweden's political parties: The Moderates
Quick facts Party name in Swedish: Moderaterna Leader: Ulf Kristersson Current number of seats in parliament: 66 (was 68 after '22 election) Vote share in the last election (2022): 19.10 percent Part of the current governing coalition?: Yes.
Stockholm and Gothenburg remain hardest cities for student housing
In Stockholm, the report found, the average waiting time for a student apartment is now 4.7 years, while in Gothenburg, the queue time for a room is 14 to 15 months and only 2,000 of the 7,000 promised student housing units have been built in the last decade.
Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
Liberal leader begs for tactical votes The Liberal Party's leader Simona Mohamsson has called on voters from the other parties in the pro-government Tidö coalition to vote tactically for her party, asking them to give her "a helping hand." If the Liberals, who are currently polling at around 2 percent, fail to get over the 4 percent parliamentary threshold in the election on September 13th, she said, the left-wing opposition was near-certain to win.
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