https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The opposition left bloc in Swedish politics has held a majority in the polls ever since the last election. But it still looks tough for them to form a government. Professor Nicholas Aylott explains the deadlock. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/qa-can-swedens-left-and-centre-parties-overcome-their-deadlock Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:03:08 +0200 qa-can-swedens-left-and-centre-parties-overcome-their-deadlock At least three out of four opposition parties are demanding that parliament vote once again on the issue of transitional arrangements for the new stricter citizenship rules. The Local asked the parliamentary parties how likely this is to happen. https://www.thelocal.com/20260504/how-likely-is-a-revote-on-transitional-rules-for-swedish-citizenship Mon, 04 May 2026 15:49:46 +0200 how-likely-is-a-revote-on-transitional-rules-for-swedish-citizenship Sweden's speaker of parliament has called the group leaders of all parties to an extraordinary meeting after the dispute over adding transitional rules to the citizenship vote brought down a long-standing agreement. https://www.thelocal.com/20260504/swedens-speaker-calls-mps-to-crisis-meeting-after-citizenship-voting-drama Mon, 04 May 2026 11:36:41 +0200 swedens-speaker-calls-mps-to-crisis-meeting-after-citizenship-voting-drama How is it possible that there can be such a difference between two neighbouring countries so culturally similar, with related Romance languages and tourism-based economies? https://www.thelocal.com/20231102/why-do-portuguese-people-speak-much-better-english-than-spaniards Thu, 02 Nov 2023 11:00:14 +0100 why-do-portuguese-people-speak-much-better-english-than-spaniards They're better for the planet, they won't be cancelled because of jet fuel shortages and you can take your own wine on board (100ml limits? What are they?) - here are some suggestions for a French train holiday this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:49:41 +0200 12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer From the latest on French politicians' love lives to Paris bee colonies and America's alternative future of speaking French, Inside France looks at the latest news and gossip from France. https://www.thelocal.com/20260502/inside-france-the-love-lives-of-french-politicians-and-an-alternative-francophone-usa Sat, 02 May 2026 09:57:40 +0200 inside-france-the-love-lives-of-french-politicians-and-an-alternative-francophone-usa Clive Eley moved to Denmark just over five years ago from the UK with his wife, a Dane who has spent most of her life outside of Denmark. Since arriving in Denmark he has noticed the tone towards immigrants change for the worse, and now believes that Denmark is turning away the people it wants to attract. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/interview-danish-rhetoric-on-migration-is-switching-off-people-like-me Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:07:59 +0200 interview-danish-rhetoric-on-migration-is-switching-off-people-like-me With a majority of just one vote, parliament rejected adding transitional rules to Sweden's June 6th citizenship reforms. But there's still reason to be hopeful, writes The Local's Richard Orange. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/opinion-the-campaign-for-transitional-citizenship-rules-failed-but-it-wasnt-in-vain Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:52:15 +0200 opinion-the-campaign-for-transitional-citizenship-rules-failed-but-it-wasnt-in-vain French history is littered with spectacular comebacks, from the Emperor Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle to Edith Piaf, writes John Lichfield. Could François Hollande, the cuddliest of politicians but tougher than he seems, return to the Elysée Palace nine years after his presidency fizzled into insignificance? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:15:22 +0200 opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really A start date has been agreed for the long-awaited direct train linking Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport with the city. https://www.thelocal.com/20260427/start-date-set-for-new-paris-airport-link Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:24:01 +0200 start-date-set-for-new-paris-airport-link Sweden is set to make a few much-awaited changes to its work permit package, hopefully put an end to teen deportations, and lower the price on fuel. Here's a rundown of what changes in May 2026. https://www.thelocal.com/20260420/new-work-permit-rules-and-lower-fuel-prices-what-changes-in-sweden-in-may-2026 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:32:11 +0200 new-work-permit-rules-and-lower-fuel-prices-what-changes-in-sweden-in-may-2026 The Swedish opposition is calling for a revote on attaching transitional rules to the citizenship reforms, after the Sweden Democrats controversially blocked its majority. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/swedish-opposition-demand-revote-on-transitional-citizenship-rules Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:03:30 +0200 swedish-opposition-demand-revote-on-transitional-citizenship-rules The group leaders from parties in the Swedish parliament met on Thursday afternoon to discuss how to rescue the system of pairing-off after the far-right Sweden Democrats shattered the agreement by sending MPs to vote it had agreed to hold back. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/parliamentary-leaders-in-crisis-meeting-after-sweden-democrat-coup Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:45:37 +0200 parliamentary-leaders-in-crisis-meeting-after-sweden-democrat-coup The far-right Sweden Democrats broke with longstanding parliamentary tradition in the citizenship vote – blocking an opposition motion on transitional arrangements by sending two MPs to vote which it had agreed to make stand down. How have the other parties reacted? https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/how-have-swedens-parties-reacted-to-the-sweden-democrats-coup Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:49:16 +0200 how-have-swedens-parties-reacted-to-the-sweden-democrats-coup Been invited to a bonfire party on April 30th? Wondering what on earth is going on? Swedes are celebrating the arrival of spring. Valborg, or Walpurgis, takes place every year on the last day of April. Here's The Local's guide to the festivities. https://www.thelocal.com/20120430/40562 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0200 40562 Sweden's Migration Minister Johan Forssell of the Moderates said it was "very important" that parliament stopped transitional rules for the new citizenship law. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/forssell-says-citizenship-transitional-rules-would-have-been-dangerous-for-sweden Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:06:55 +0200 forssell-says-citizenship-transitional-rules-would-have-been-dangerous-for-sweden The Swedish parliament on April 29th passed a bill affecting the lives of more than 100,000 prospective citizens. The Local reported live from parliament. Join the conversation here. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/live-blog-swedish-mps-debate-and-vote-on-citizenship-bill Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:01:59 +0200 live-blog-swedish-mps-debate-and-vote-on-citizenship-bill On April 29th, parliament will vote on a bill that makes getting Swedish citizenship a lot harder. What's in it? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/key-points-whats-in-swedens-june-6th-citizenship-laws Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:17:37 +0200 key-points-whats-in-swedens-june-6th-citizenship-laws The majority of refugees who come to Germany each year come from war zones, such as from Syria around 2015 or Ukraine since 2022. So why do a number of US citizens also submit applications for asylum each year? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/why-do-some-us-citizens-seek-asylum-in-germany Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:54 +0200 why-do-some-us-citizens-seek-asylum-in-germany Sweden’s opposition parties failed to add transitional rules to the new stricter citizenship bill when it was voted through by parliament, meaning the tougher rules will apply even to pending applications when they come into force on June 6th. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/swedens-parliament-rejects-transitional-rules-for-citizenship-bill Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:48 +0200 swedens-parliament-rejects-transitional-rules-for-citizenship-bill