Swedish news is sometimes hard to come by. Lundagard’s international edition gives you a short summary of local, regional and national news every week.
Håkan Juholt officially stepped down this past Monday as the leader of the Social Democrats, currently (and historically) Sweden’s most influential political party covering roughly 30 percent of Sweden’s riksdag. The weakened leader has been troubled by an affair involving alleged tax embezzlement, though the charges were later dropped.
The stricken political party finally reached a consensus on Friday for Stefan Löfven to take on the post as their newest leader. The former union leader has caused a lot of controversy due to his lack of experience in the political arena, but some say it’s quite the contrary.
Internationally renowned Swedish pop group ABBA has announced that they will release a new album with “new” songs after a decade-long hiatus. Since the Swedish super group’s split in 1983, ABBA has not agreed to take any million-kronor offers for a possible reunion. They will, however, offer a new set of previously unreleased songs from their 1976 album “Arrival” this coming April.
H&M has lost some ground during the past season. The awaited results came at a loss of twelve percent according to SMI Direkts forecast summary. Causes of their losses can be traced to rises in transporation costs as well as a quadrupled cost in the purchase of cotton.
Controversial and provocative local artist Dan Park has been sentenced in court for defamation and hate crimes towards people of color. The sentencing includes heavy fines and damages reaching up to 10 000 kronor each to Malmö’s Afroswedish Association leader Jallow Mamodou and Hallands Nation qurator Ellinor Lavesson. Park’s case involved the distribution of provocative depictions of a chained Mr. Mamodou with the words “Our negro slave has run away” after a jungle-themed party took place at Hallands Nation wherein two blackfaced Swedish youths pretended to be slaves at a fake slave auction.
Twelve candidates shall compete to become Lunds next vice chancellor taking over Eva Åkesson’s now empty seat. “It will be an exciting time for us. Eva Åkesson’s shoes will be hard to fill,” says leader of Lunds universitets studentkårer Simon Wetterling. However, some controversy has come up regarding gender equality. Just three of the twelve candidates are men.
