Week 19: debaters question new gender affiliation law and Swedish NATO membership

During the past week, debaters have, among other things, discussed the proposal for a new gender affiliation law. Pictured: Pride parade in Stockholm, 2018. Photo: Sparrow. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

During the past week, several actors have debated whether a new gender equality law in Sweden would mean a necessary modernization or whether it would do more harm than good. The NATO issue has also remained on the agenda.  

May 18, 2022, Current debate

Week 18: Debaters warn of cuts in aid

Instead of taking money from development aid to pay for refugee reception, Sweden should increase support for farmers in poor parts of the world, in order to counter a global food crisis. This is what Anna Tibblin, Secretary General of We Effect, and Anna-Karin Hatt, CEO of the Swedish Farmers' Association (LRF), write in a debate article in SvD. Pictured: Mauritania, which in 2012 was hit by a serious food crisis. Photo: Oxfam International. Source: Flickr.

Of: Alice Eriksson

Last week warned debaters for the consequences of reducing Swedish aid when the UN flags that billions of people in the world could be starved due to the war in Ukraine, while the question about nuclear weapons was a part of the continued NATO debate. 

May 9, 2022, Current debate

Week 17: Several demand that Europe restrict imports of Russian gas

The sale of fossil fuels and raw materials to Europe is perhaps the single most important source of income for Putin to finance his war against Ukraine, according to several Swedish debaters. Photo: Peretz Partensky. Source: Flickr.

Of: Markus Hietanen

A Russian halt to gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria this week breathed new life into the debate over Europe's energy dependence on Russia and how the West is financing Putin's war in Ukraine.  

May 2, 2022, Current debate

Week 16: Debators turn on the NATO issue

In mid-April, the Social Democratic prime ministers of Sweden and Finland - Magdalena Andersson and Sanna Marin - met to discuss the countries' possible entry into NATO. Now, among other things, Aftonbladet's editorial board is turning on the issue - and believes that Sweden should join NATO. Photo: FinnishGovernment. Source: Flickr.

Of: Hanne Karlsson and Linnea Ljungar

Last week's debate and leadership pages revolved to a large extent around the riots that took place in several Swedish cities during the Easter weekend. The global issues that were discussed continued to be about a possible Swedish membership in NATO - and among other things, Aftonbladet's management side has changed their opinion on the issue.

April 25, 2022, Current debate

Week 15: "Europe's oil and gas kill civilians in Ukraine"

More debaters believe that the EU should stop importing Russian gas. Photo: Giorgio Galeotti. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Ina Carlsson

The past week's debate and leadership pages have been dominated by discussions about how the Western world should handle trade in Russian goods. Debaters have also discussed the financial and food crises that have hit developing countries in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

April 19, 2022, Current debate

Week 14: Debaters critical of aid being used for refugee reception

"If Sweden is to continue to be seen as a pioneering country in development aid, we must be prepared to lead - not by creatively trying to circumvent the main purpose of development aid." Several leaders of Swedish aid organizations write about the government's announcement that Sweden's refugee reception should be able to be deducted from the aid. Pictured: informal settlements in Yemen. Photo: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. Source: Flickr.

Of: Fanny Andersson and Julia Lundén Azzeddine

The leadership continues to be largely dominated by political consequences stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine. But now voices are also beginning to be raised about Swedish development assistance and the need to also focus on other humanitarian issues.

April 11, 2022, Current debate

Week 13: "More sanctions against Russia - now"

Torbjörn Becker, head of the Institute of Eastern Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, calls on the western world to introduce new, tougher sanctions against Russia's leadership. "Sanctions against oil could run out of Putin's money," he wrote. Photo: DimitroSevastopol. Source: Pixabay.

Of: Hibo Yusuf Ahmed and Samira Issa

Why the Western world must increase sanctions against Russia and how Sweden's potential NATO accession can put peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in a critical situation has been debated over the past week.

April 4, 2022, Current debate

Week 12: Debaters disagree about Sweden's refugee reception

"This is a new situation than in 2015, and it is important not to repeat the mistake of trying to backtrack or tighten or pull out." The environmentalists Maria Ferm, Rasmus Ling and Annika Hirvonen write this in a debate article about Sweden's refugee reception. Pictured: Syrian refugees crossing the border between Hungary and Austria on their way to Germany, 2015. Photo: Mstyslav Chernov. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Angel Collin and Lina Kallio

Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to dominate the media. The war has led to a debate about who should be considered refugees and when economic sanctions should be used.

March 28, 2022, Current debate

Week 11: Debaters pay tribute to civil society's reception of refugees from Ukraine

Demonstration in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in London, one of many similar protests in the world against the war in Ukraine. Photo: Alisdare Hickson. Source: Flickr.

Of: Wilma Sörman Ivarzon

Last week, several debaters praised the support of Swedish civil society to help Ukrainian refugees, while the Swedish Migration Board is accused of lack of responsibility. Sweden's attitude towards NATO and the Swedish civil defense was also discussed on the debate pages.

March 24, 2022, Current debate

Week 10: Debaters disagree on possible NATO membership

Sweden's possible entry into NATO has continued to be a major discussion on Swedish debate and leadership pages during the past week. Pictured: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Source: Flickr.

Of: Frida Lindberg and Julia Carlzon

Last week's debate was also marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the question of a Swedish entry into NATO and the dependence on Russian natural gas, the climate issue has also found a place in the discussion.

March 14, 2022, Current debate