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Local Sweden
6 days ago
- Politics
- Local Sweden
OPINION: No transitional rules in new citizenship law will be an insult to Sweden's reputation
If the government is serious about its pledge to attract international talent, including transitional rules when Sweden rolls out next year's far-reaching citizenship reforms is the only way not to undermine that goal, writes migration researcher Patrick Henry Gallen. Advertisement The most drastic tightening of Sweden's citizenship law is set to go into force around this time next year. To a large extent, it is not the content of the new law, but how the government decides to implement that will mean everything. Since the Tidö government came into power in 2022, tightening Sweden's comparatively loose citizenship law has been a priority. Finally, in January of this year, the release of the inquiry revealed the contours of the new law: an almost doubled residence requirement, in practice a near-elimination of an easier pathway to citizenship for spouses of Swedish citizens, and new requirements for language competency, successful completion of a civics test, and economic self-sufficiency. These changes should not come as a surprise: the governing coalition – and to some extent even the Social Democrats – have long criticised the few and loose requirements for acquisition of Swedish citizenship compared to most other European countries, and especially our Nordic neighbours. In many ways at least some of these changes can be seen as reasonable: it is admittedly shocking that it is in theory currently possible to acquire Swedish citizenship without speaking or understanding a word of Swedish or knowing anything about the country. On the other hand, the extension of the residency requirement – without providing expedited pathways to citizenship for those foreigners that demonstrate a high level of integration – can appear simply as an attempt to deny hard working people basic democratic rights to appease the hard right. However, what is a surprise is current Migration Minister Johan Forssell's apparent unwillingness to follow the strong recommendation of the special investigator behind the new citizenship law for robust transitional rules. His claim, echoed by some other members of the current government, is that transitional rules would pose a security risk: if prospective citizens are allowed to have their applications assessed according to the current, looser rules after the new framework comes into force, there is a risk that criminals or even terrorists could be afforded the rights and protections of Swedish citizenship, giving them access to sensitive jobs and, most notably, permanent protection from deportation. This comes off as a compelling argument, especially as the security situation in Sweden is undoubtedly worse than it has been in decades. But a closer look at this argument reveals a number of critical weaknesses. Advertisement For one, while there are legitimate security concerns around granting citizenship, the Migration Agency has long had comprehensive security routines in collaboration with Sweden's security police, Säpo, to track and respond to potential threats and, most importantly, deny citizenship to individuals that they believe could or in fact do pose a threat to Sweden's national security. Moreover, since the government directed the Migration Agency to step up security routines in the spring, additional, comprehensive measures have been put in place: all current applicants now must report to one of the Migration Agency's units to confirm their identity in person and must respond to a comprehensive multi-page questionnaire intended to identify any additional security risks or other reasons that could make an applicant ineligible to receive Swedish citizenship. Implementing these new routines has effectively resulted in a full freeze on application approvals in the past two months, with only six applications being approved in April – an over 99 percent reduction compared to the Migration Agency's original prognosis before the measures were announced. The consequences of this order are not short-lived: the Migration Agency's annual prognosis for processed applications for all of 2025 has recently been reduced by 26 percent. Advertisement Moreover, the government has argued that most intensive security checks are generally necessary given that Swedish citizenship is irrevocable. But that, too, is set to change if their efforts to amend the Swedish constitution are successful. If the reform is implemented, those who are deemed a significant threat to Sweden's national security could have their citizenship revoked at any point in the future, undermining much of Johan Forssell and his government's argument against transitional rules. There is another crucial aspect here: failure to implement transitional rules would mark a huge departure from well established practices and support for rule of law in Sweden. Virtually every other European and Nordic country that has undertaken similar tightening of their citizenship laws have provided for robust transitional rules, including Switzerland, which Johan Forssell recently visited, namely to learn from the country's uniquely strict citizenship regime. Refusing to implement the new law with transitional rules would not only set Sweden apart from its neighbours, but also signal that rule of law is not a concern of the government, setting an extremely dangerous precedent for further changes that could curtail foreigners' rights and damage Sweden's reputation for commitment to principles of fairness and openness. There could also very well be knock-on effects of this course of action that undermine all of the government's expressed intentions of making Sweden a top destination for attracting and maintaining international talent. Why choose Sweden, with its already comparatively low wages, high taxes, and longer work week, when its leaders are now also signalling a willingness to trample on your rights and ability to settle in the country long-term? Advertisement The practical consequences of failing to implement the new law with transitional rules are likely the most striking: tens of thousands of applicants, the overwhelming majority of which are hard working, well-integrated people who love Sweden, stand to have their applicants summarily denied – some after up to six years of waiting for a decision – simply because a case worker might not manage to get around to their cases before the new law comes into force. These unfortunate applicants won't just have to suffer the denial of democratic rights and opportunity for permanent settlement, but may also face extra financial punishment since the government has as of yet not said a word about whether the 1,500 kronor applicants paid to have their application processed will be refunded or credited to the nearly doubled fee that is set to accompany the new citizenship law. Without transitional rules, the government will with one hand deny hardworking people democratic rights they would otherwise be eligible for and with the other effectively commit mass theft. Advertisement As recently enforced security measures are either already in full effect or on the horizon and the weight of legal convention and international examples abound, there is no reasonable argument for refusing to implement the law with transitional rules. The only explanation is that the government is bending to pressure from its right-wing populist coalition partners or has an interest in making an extremely costly and legally dubious political statement. If the government truly wants to make Sweden an international talent hub and wants to clearly signal the importance of Swedish citizenship, as the migration minister has claimed time and time again, implementing the new law with the recommended transitional rules is the only way to not undermine its stated goals. Patrick Henry Gallen is a researcher in geopolitics, migration and foresight. He is based in Malmö and is currently waiting for Swedish citizenship.
Local Sweden
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Swedish security police lowers terror threat level from four to three
Sweden's intelligence service said on Friday it was lowering its terror alert level from "high threat" to "elevated threat", saying the risk of an attack had subsided. Advertisement The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) raised the level in August 2023 to "high threat" ‒ the fourth level on a scale of five ‒ after angry reactions to a series of protests involving desecrations of the Quran made the country a "prioritised target". "Propaganda against Sweden has subsided and Sweden is not specifically mentioned as a target," Fredrik Hallström, head of operations at the Swedish Security Service, told a press conference. "We do not see the same intense flow of attack threats directed at Sweden," he added. Säpo said it now considered the terror alert level to be at "elevated threat" ‒ the third level on its five-point scale. Hallström cautioned that with "an elevated threat, there is room for a terrorist attack to occur". A series of Quran burnings across the country ‒ most notably by Iraqi Christian Salwan Momika ‒ in the summer of 2023 sparked outrage in the Muslim world. It strained relations between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries, and Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July 2023, starting fires within the compound on the second occasion. Advertisement Momika ended up facing charges of inciting ethnic hatred, but in January of this year he was fatally shot in an apartment just hours before the court was due to deliver its ruling. His co-protester Salwan Najem, also of Iraqi origin, was ultimately found guilty of inciting ethnic hatred during four Quran burnings in 2023. Despite the lowered threat level, Charlotte von Essen, head of Säpo, stressed that "Sweden is in a serious security situation". "The worst in many years," von Essen told reporters. The Säpo chief pointed to the fact that the war in Ukraine was still ongoing. "Foreign powers ‒ and Russia in particular ‒ are carrying out extensive security-threatening activities in and against Sweden," she said.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Shock in Sweden at death of diplomat questioned for spying
Sweden's foreign minister has spoken of grief among her colleagues after it emerged that a diplomat who was questioned this week on suspicion of spying has been found man, described as a high-ranking diplomat, was arrested by Sweden's Säpo intelligence service on Sunday and released on Wednesday. He had denied wrongdoing, although prosecutors said he remained under Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard released a statement saying her thoughts were with the diplomat's family, friends and colleagues and said it had been a difficult said she could not go into further details about the case. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Former foreign minister Carl Bildt described the "tragically deceased ambassador" as extremely gifted and competent, who had worked in various roles within the foreign reports said he had spent long periods stationed outside Europe, most recently as an ambassador. Asked to confirm whether the man who died was an ambassador, his lawyer Anton Strand said he had no comment. Images of the door to the diplomat's flat on Swedish TV showed that it had been forced open at the time of his diplomat had sought medical treatment for injuries and submitted a report alleging use of excessive force at the time. Säpo said the arrest had been Strand said in a statement to the BBC: "I have ensured his formal report about abuse during the arrest has arrived to the special investigations unit. An investigation has started regarding this."Unconfirmed reports from public broadcaster SVT suggest Säpo had been investigating a possible link to the sudden resignation of the new national security adviser, Tobias Thyberg, who quit hours a day after taking on the before he resigned, sensitive pictures of him on the dating app Grindr had been sent anonymously to the national security adviser quits over Grindr imagesMr Strand made no comment on that but said he had received the news of his client's death early on Friday and his thoughts were with his Per Lindqvist told Swedish TV that the death was very regrettable and a preliminary investigation into suspected espionage was not reports said the man was in his 50s and had returned to his home in central Stockholm temporarily after a long period abroad.
Local Sweden
16-05-2025
- Local Sweden
Swedish diplomat suspected of spying found dead
A high-ranking Swedish diplomat suspected of espionage has been found dead just days after he was released from custody, Swedish media report. Advertisement The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) on Monday announced the arrest, but gave no details about the case or the suspect's identity. The following day, broadcaster SVT said the man arrested was a top diplomat. On Wednesday, prosecutors released him from custody but said that he was still a suspect. "We regret to confirm that a member of the foreign service has died. Out of consideration for the next of kin, we will not go into further details," the foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP on Friday. Newspaper Expressen meanwhile reported that the man who had been found dead overnight was the one detained suspected of spying. Anton Strand, the suspect's lawyer, told AFP this week that his client denied the allegations against him and maintained "that he has done nothing wrong". Strand also said his client had gone to a hospital after being released on Wednesday and reported police for using excessive force during his arrest, but did not provide details about the extent of the injuries. Advertisement SVT also reported this week that Säpo was investigating whether the case was connected to a scandal that hit Swedish national security advisor Tobias Thyberg. He resigned within hours of his May 8th appointment after "sensitive" photos of him from dating app Grindr were sent anonymously to media and the government. SVT, which has not specified its sources, said the diplomat arrested was not Thyberg, who served as Sweden's ambassador to Ukraine and Afghanistan among other positions over a 24-year career.
Local Sweden
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Swedish prosecutors deny that spy arrests are linked to journalist held in Turkey
Swedish prosecutors have denied the intelligence service's arrests of a Kurdish representative and a Swedish diplomat are linked to a journalist facing 'terror' charges in Turkey. Advertisement Public broadcaster Sveriges Radio had alleged late on Wednesday that one of the suspects was connected to the case of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who is currently in custody in Turkey awaiting trial on a charge of belonging to a "terrorist" group. The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) confirmed to AFP that two people had recently been arrested for "aggravated unauthorised handling of secret information". They had since been released but were still suspects, Säpo said. It declined to disclose any details of the case. Sveriges Radio said one of the suspects in Säpo's case was a Swedish citizen who was a leading representative for Kurds in Northern Syria. The other was a diplomat at the foreign ministry. The broadcaster said it was unclear whether the arrests had been made as a result of a request from Turkey or not. But on Thursday, the Swedish Prosecution Authority published a statement refuting the media reports. "This is an individual case that has no links to other ongoing investigations or legal proceedings, in Sweden or in other countries," public prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said, noting the investigation was in an early stage. Advertisement Turkey has accused Medin, who works for Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an allegation he has denied. Medin was detained at Istanbul airport on March 27th when he flew in to cover mass protests gripping Turkey. A Turkish court last month handed the 40-year-old an 11-month suspended sentence on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In order to persuade Turkey to drop its veto when Sweden applied to join Nato, the countries made a deal that included increased collaboration on "terrorism". At the weekend, Säpo arrested a second diplomat on suspicions of spying. That diplomat was also released but remains a suspect, although the intelligence agency told AFP that was related to a separate investigation. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Nato meeting in Turkey, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard confirmed there were two investigations ongoing relating to government employees. "These are serious accusations but I can't say more than that," Stenergard said. Stenergard said she had spoken to her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Wednesday about Medin's case.
