Good morning!
It’s Friday, March 13.
Yep, that day again. But let’s not dwell too much on bad luck.
On this day in 1809, a group of noble officers entered the chambers of King Gustav IV Adolf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to arrest him in a coup d’état. Blamed for Sweden’s disastrous war with Russia, the king initially fled, prompting a dramatic chase through the palace before he was finally caught in the courtyard and taken into custody.
His uncle, Duke Karl, became regent, and the coup soon reshaped Sweden’s political system. The old constitution was replaced by the Constitution of 1809 – a document that would govern Sweden for more than 150 years and, eventually, pave the way for the Bernadotte dynasty that still sits on the throne today.
Not too shabby for the 13th.
PS: Armand Duplantis completed a new world record after clearing 6.31 metres on his first attempt in his own Mondo Classic on Thursday. “This is my house. Every time I step onto the runway, I represent you, and I feel such pride jumping for you and for Sweden,” Duplantis says.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Phil
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Word of the week
OMTANKE [OM-tang-keh]
thoughtfulness; consideration.
Felicia Wins Sweden’s Eurovision Selection – Then Sparks Controversy Ahead of Vienna
Attribution: SVT Nyheter
Sweden has its Eurovision contender. After six weeks of touring and a high-energy finale, the masked pop act Felicia won Melodifestivalen 2026 with the techno-house track “My System,” securing the country’s ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna this May. But within hours of her victory, the win was already making headlines for more than just the music.
The final of Melodifestivalen 2026 unfolded despite a week of illness among performers, including Felicia herself, who admitted shortly before going on stage that she was battling a fever. Still, the performance resonated with voters and juries, propelling the electronic anthem to the top spot and earning the iconic crystal microphone trophy. The artist, who performs wearing a mask, said she never expected to win and credited the song’s unusual style – rarely heard in the competition – for helping it stand out. Whether the mask will remain in place at Eurovision Song Contest 2026 remains an open question, as Felicia said she is still working up the courage to reveal her face publicly.
The final also featured a lineup of elaborate interval acts, including a tribute medley by KAJ celebrating iconic Melodifestivalen trios, joined on stage by veteran singer Siw Malmkvist and the pop group E.M.D.. Host Gina Dirawi was also surprised during the broadcast with induction into the competition’s Hall of Fame.
But the celebratory moment quickly turned political. In interviews after the win, Felicia said she believes Israel should not be allowed to compete in Eurovision, remarks that prompted the Israeli public broadcaster KAN to consider filing a complaint.
Despite the brewing controversy, Sweden’s focus now shifts to Vienna, where Felicia will face strong competition from several European favorites when the contest kicks off in May.
You can listen to the winner here.
Do you think the right song won? You can find the other contestants in the final by following the link here.
Postcard from the North
Gullholmen, Bohuslän
In other news
🚨 The Russian captain of the vessel Caffa has been requested to be detained by prosecutors after the ship was boarded off Trelleborg. Authorities say he is suspected of serious use of false documents after allegedly presenting several fake maritime certificates to the Swedish Coast Guard. The ship, believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” was sailing under a suspected false Guinea flag while heading to Saint Petersburg when the Swedish police boarded the ship under a law enforcement operation using a helicopter and high speed boat.
Update: The Swedish Coast Guard (Kustbevakningen) has boarded a second vessel suspected of belonging to the Russian "shadow fleet" outside Trelleborg, according to a press release. Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister for Civil Defence, confirmed the boarding of this new vessel, noting its suspected connection to the Russian oil transport network used to circumvent sanctions.
👍 A new poll by Indikator Opinion for Sveriges Radio shows that 29% of voters say their personal situation has improved since the 2022 election. This marks the first time during the current parliamentary term that more people report being better off rather than worse off. According to polling chief Per Oleskog Tryggvason, the shift represents a significant change and could be important for the government’s prospects in the upcoming election.
🌍 Kaja Kallas, the Vice-President of the European Commission, says the relationship between the European Union and the United States has become highly complicated and claims U.S. strategy aims to divide Europe. In an interview with the Financial Times, she argued that U.S. policy includes supporting European political movements aligned with American interests. Kallas said the EU’s best response is to remain united, since a cohesive Europe represents a power comparable to the United States.
Liberals Consider U-Turn on Sweden Democrats as Election Pressure Mounts
Attribution: Omni News
Sweden’s struggling Liberal Party may be preparing a dramatic shift in strategy: dropping its long-standing red line against governing with the Sweden Democrats. According to multiple media reports and party sources, the move could be announced within days—potentially reshaping the country’s center-right political landscape just months before the next election.
Sources say the leadership of Liberalerna is considering allowing Sverigedemokraterna to join a future government, a sharp reversal from a party congress decision last November that explicitly ruled out such cooperation. The proposal is expected to be discussed when senior party figures gather in Stockholm, including the party board, parliamentary group, and regional leaders.
The shift reportedly comes as the Liberals face dire polling numbers, hovering around two percent—well below Sweden’s four-percent parliamentary threshold. Some insiders believe loosening the stance on the Sweden Democrats could attract tactical “support votes” from center-right voters who want to keep the party in parliament and maintain the broader conservative coalition.
In exchange for dropping the red line, party negotiators are said to be seeking policy concessions, including the possibility of a referendum on adopting the euro. The proposed deal could also give the Liberals greater influence over specific policy areas within the governing bloc.
Still, the idea is deeply controversial within the party. Several prominent members are reportedly threatening to resign if the new line is adopted, reflecting a long-standing ideological divide between factions that view cooperation with the nationalist party as pragmatic and those who see it as incompatible with liberal values.
For party leader Simona Mohamsson, the stakes are particularly high. Some insiders say the policy shift could become a leadership showdown—either securing her authority ahead of the election or triggering internal revolt. In other words, the coming weeks could determine not only the party’s strategy, but its future.
Swede-ish Notes
Attribution: Nerikes Allehanda
Tusen tack!
Thank you very much for the thoughtful feedback on last week’s Substack piece – one Swede’s view on the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. I truly appreciate the responses and the interest you have shown.
Several readers mentioned that Substack is a new platform to them and that they felt a bit uncertain about how subscribing works. To make things easier, I have imported the email list from The Old Country so you will automatically receive the Substack posts as well.
If you prefer not to receive those emails, you can simply unsubscribe at the bottom of any Substack message while still remaining subscribed to The Old Country. Subscribing to the Substack is completely free, and opting out takes only a moment. I hope this approach makes it easier for those who were curious but hesitant to try a new platform.
The text’s will be sent under my name, Philip Gustavsson, directly to your e-mail.
One advantage of Substack is that it allows readers to comment directly on each piece. That opens the door for a more active conversation. If you disagree with something I write – which is entirely possible, since those texts are deliberately more opinionated – I welcome you to say so. Tell me why. Good discussions, carried out respectfully and in good faith, are often where we learn the most in my opinion.
The goal is not that everyone should agree, but that we can exchange perspectives and perhaps narrow some of the widening political divides that exist across the Western world today.
To be clear, The Old Country itself will remain exactly what it has been: a largely neutral newsletter about Swedish news and history and the links to North America. The Substack simply provides a separate space for more personal reflections, which many of you have asked for.
Tusen tack for your continued support.
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