Week 43: Debaters encourage the Foreign Minister to take up the fight for equality

Several debaters urge the new foreign minister Tobias Billström (M) that Sweden should continue to lead the way for global equality. In the picture, he can be seen at Almedal Week 2018. Photo: Politikerveckan Almedalen. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt and Sidra Amir

The new government's foreign and aid policy continues to create debate. China's increasingly authoritarian rule and Great Britain's new prime minister have also sparked reactions on Swedish debate and editorial pages. 

October 31, 2022, Current debate

Week 42: Strong reactions after the decision to close the Ministry of the Environment

The fact that the Ministry of the Environment will be closed has been debated during the week. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Amanda Rossling and Karin Sjöstrand

Last week, Sweden's new ministers were appointed and with this the closure of the Ministry of the Environment was also presented, something that created strong reactions around the country. The decision is criticized by Sweden's former climate and environment minister, who believes that the consequences could be catastrophic for environmental work. 

October 24, 2022, Current debate

Week 41: New government proposal agreed to reduce aid and five years since the start of #metoo

"Without yes it's no" - a placard from a demonstration in Montréal, Canada on June 19, 2020. Photo: Mélodie Descoubes. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Fredrik Govenius and Jonathan Lamy

The new government with Ulf Kristersson as prime minister will drop the one percent target and work to reduce Sweden's aid. The proposal arouses criticism from humanitarian organizations but is encouraged by some bourgeois leaders. Meanwhile, it's been five years since #metoo took the world by storm. 

October 17, 2022, Current debate

Week 40: "Support for women in Iran must not stop at murmurs"

Debaters demand that the EU and the rest of the world act more unitedly and forcefully in support of the protests in Iran. Pictured: Demonstrations in Stockholm in solidarity with Iranian women's freedom struggle. Photo: Artin Bakhan. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Sandra Duru and Vilma Ellemark

The discussion around the outside world's support for the protests in Iran continues. Several debaters believe that Sweden, the EU and the free world must now move from words to action. Also Erdogan outcome of a Swedish satirical program has been discussed during the past week.  

October 11, 2022, Current debate

Week 39: Debaters disagree on why the protests in Iran have become so powerful

Violent protests are ongoing in Tehran. Photo: Lingbeek, Getty Image Signature. Source: Canva.

Of: Liljan Daoud

The Iranian protests have once again interested the Swedish debaters this week - perhaps as a response to last week's criticism of a lack of support after mahsa Jina Aminis death. This week's debate has also discussed the veil and how, according to the debaters, it symbolizes the systematic the oppression of women.

October 3, 2022, Current debate

Week 38: Debaters demand support for Iranian women's freedom struggle

Protests have spread across Iran, and also elsewhere in the world, since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being beaten by Iran's so-called morality police for wearing her veil "the wrong way". The protests have been a central topic on Swedish debate and editorial pages during the past week. Pictured: Protest in London against the compulsion for women to wear the veil in Iran. Photo: Gary Knight. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

The wave of protests in Iran, which erupted after the 22-year-old mahsa Aminis death that occurred in connection with her arrest by the Iranian morality police, has characterized the past week's debate and editorial pages. Several debaters are now calling on governments, organizations and individuals to support Iranian women's fight for freedom. Concerns about the consequences of cuts in Swedish aid has also been debated.

September 26, 2022, Current debate

Week 22: Climate summit in Stockholm and Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership guide this week's debate

This is what it looked like when world leaders triumphantly agreed on the 1,5-degree goal at the climate summit in Paris in 2015. In connection with the Stockholm + 50 meeting that took place this week, it is still a matter of rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done, Lovisa Arvidsson writes in Aftonbladet. Photo: UNclimatechange. Source: Flickr.

Of: Hanne Karlsson and Markus Hietanen

During the past week, both Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership and the Stockholm + 50 Climate Summit have been debated. How should Sweden respond to Turkey's various demands and what is most important to prioritize in the climate issue? 

June 8, 2022, Current debate

Week 21: Imminent famine engages debaters

With the Ukraine war, millions of people in the world are threatened by famine, but the uncertainty surrounding the global food situation is far older than the war, according to Dagens Nyheter's editorial staff. Photo: Dennis Jarvis. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Sigrid Wernersson and Villemo Warnerfjord

An impending svältcatastrophe stood högt på agenda on debate and leadership pages last week. Framförare forwardlls Russia's blockades of ports in Ukraine as a threat to the global food försöthe rjning. 

June 3, 2022, Current debate

Week 20: Sweden's application for NATO membership arouses opposition

The fact that Turkey has demanded that Sweden extradite about 20 Kurds in order for Sweden's NATO application to be accepted has created debate. Among other things, several left-wing parties demand a guarantee from Foreign Minister Ann Linde (S) that no Kurds will be extradited. Photo: NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elise Olsson and Idun Eklind

Sweden's now submitted NATO application and Swedish arms exports have been high on the agenda in the past week. A potential Swedish NATO membership has aroused both criticism and opposition. Partly because the decision was not voted on by the Swedish people, partly because the application has not been welcomed by Turkey.

May 23, 2022, Current debate

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