FPÖ's election win in Austria a victory for Vladimir Putin

Herbert Kickl's party was founded by Nazis in the 1950s. Now it is the largest in Austria. Photo: Michael Lucan. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Agnes Fältman

The right-wing nationalist party Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) won the Austrian parliamentary election for the first time in the country's history. Despite the recent devastating floods, the climate-denying and pro-Russia party won the most votes. Now possibly a darker future awaits the EU's support for Ukraine, because the FPÖ wants to completely abolish it, writes Agnes Fältman.

October 14, 2024, Chronicle

Week 39: Political disagreement over Middle East peace solutions, chocolate boycott and the future of Ukraine

The fact that Sweden chose to cast its vote when the UN General Assembly voted through a resolution condemning Israel's occupation of Palestinian land has sparked debate in the past week. Photo: Lara Torvi/Flickr.

Of: Ofelia Gedda

This week, the uncertain global situation has continued to be the focus of the debate on global issues. The escalation in the conflicts between Israel, Palestine and now Hezbollah has been widely debated from different sides and angles, but even within the political parties the members do not agree on the way forward. Economic support for post-war Ukraine should be planned already now, a debater believes, while Russia's income should be cut off, among other things, through a chocolate boycott.

September 30, 2024, Current debate

Young and highly educated people are leaving Hungary – as a result of Orbán's policies

Since 2022, Hungary can no longer be considered a full-fledged democracy. The political and economic development in the country has meant that many young and highly educated people choose to leave. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Fidesz, the nationalist ruling party, has over the past decade systematically dismantled the country's democratic institutions. In an increasingly harsh economic and political climate many young and highly educated Hungarians choose to move abroad. What can attract them back? Can liberal winds blowing across former nationalist ally Poland bring hope for change? 

February 26, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Week 8: Debaters demand increased support for Ukraine

Last week, the war in Ukraine entered its third year. With that, debaters demanded, among other things, increased military support for Ukraine and tougher sanctions against Russia. Photo: President of Ukraine. Source: Flickr.

Of: The Chancellery

Last week it was two years since Russia began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which characterized the Swedish opinion pages. Several debaters believed that Sweden, the EU and the world must do more to end the war. 

February 26, 2024, Current debate

Week 7: Center parties demand financial penalties for climate criminals in the EU

During the past week, among other things, the future of the EU has been discussed on Swedish debate and editorial pages, due to the upcoming elections to the European Parliament this summer. Photo: European Parliament. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Ida Nilsson and Adam Hansen

Ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, which fall in June this year, the debate about Sweden's role in the EU and the Union's future is increasing. The Center Party demands that the EU introduce financial penalties for countries that do not live up to the goals for climate change, while the Sweden Democrats advocate a restructuring of EU policy and strengthened decision-making at the national level. Even the Russian one opposition politician Alexey Navalny's death has been noticed in the debate during the past week. 

February 19, 2024, Current debate

Austria's dependence on Russia divides public opinion

Austria still has strong economic ties to Russia - about which Austrians and Ukrainians in the country have divided opinions. Pictured: Valeriia Ventskovska at the Universität Wien campus/Parliament of Austria in Vienna. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Få länder within the EU still has så strong financial relationships to Russia as Österrich. The country's imports of Russian gas and många företag's continued operations in Russia after the war of aggression against Ukraine divides opinion among ömore sterile as well that newänth Ukrainians. Some believe that gas imports partially finance the war in Ukraine, others believes that the humanitära hjälpen ÖAustria gives to the waräruled the land bör stå in focus.  

December 18, 2023, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

New information links the Wagner group to murders in Mali and the Central African Republic

Since 2013, the UN peacekeeping operation Minusma has operated in Mali. Last year, the Russian military company Wagner Group established itself in the country - where they are suspected of war crimes and killing civilians. Photo: Minusma. Source: Flickr.

Of: Linnea Ljungar

The Russian military company Wagner Group has been linked to massacres in which several hundred civilians have died. According to reports, the group is present in several African countries, which creates new concerns about how the group affects security on the African continent. At the same time, there is a positive opinion against Russia and Wagner in parts of Mali.

June 27, 2022, News

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

Ukraine's 2,7 million disabled people are excluded from humanitarian efforts

Disabled people do not have the opportunity to get to shelters in time during bombings, not least fleeing the country due to mobility impairments, writes Jesper Hansén in Omvärlden. Photo: Aleksey Filippov / UNICEF. Source: Flickr.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine

The war in Ukraine has left great traces of destruction and has had serious consequences and changed living conditions for the country's civilian population. A particularly vulnerable group are the approximately 2,7 million Ukrainian residents with disabilities.

April 22, 2022, Notis