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The Old Country Newsletter – Kyrkoval
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
September 19, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, September 19.
On this day in 1973, Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch, Carl XVI Gustaf, made his kungaförsäkran — the king’s declaration. For more than fifty years, His Majesty has served as head of state.
Unlike in the U.S., where the president combines the roles of head of state and head of government, Sweden splits the two. The prime minister runs the government, while the politically unaligned king greets foreign leaders and represents Sweden abroad.
🌈💫The More You Know 💫🌈
Long live the King!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Word of the week
LJUSLYKTA [yoos-lick-tah]
candle lantern.
Orbán Escalates Feud With Sweden Over Crime and Rule of Law
Attribution: Omni
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has doubled down on his attacks against Sweden, accusing its leaders of hypocrisy while painting the country as a society on the brink of collapse.
In a string of posts on X, Orbán claimed that Sweden is plagued by crime, publishing graphics comparing the two nations on shootings, explosions, and illegal migration. He said he “feels for the Swedish people” while criticizing Swedish leaders for “pointing fingers abroad.” Just days earlier, Orbán falsely asserted that more than 280 girls had been arrested for murder in Sweden—a number that Swedish authorities quickly debunked. In reality, only eight girls aged 15 to 17 were suspected of homicide in 2024, alongside 68 women in total, according to Sweden’s National Council for Crime Prevention.
Orbán, citing German newspaper Die Welt, argued that gangs exploit Sweden’s justice system by using minors as killers, saying the nation had “withdrawn from European civilization” and descended into “barbarism.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hit back, dismissing the claims as “shameless lies” and calling Orbán “desperate” ahead of Hungary’s next election. Kristersson also accused Orbán of dismantling the rule of law in his own country, while Hungary’s EU minister János Bóka countered by denying that Budapest imprisons political opponents.
The back-and-forth highlights the tense relationship between Stockholm and Budapest, with Sweden often criticizing Hungary on democratic standards. Orbán’s latest offensive suggests he’s not just targeting Brussels critics—he’s also turning Sweden into a political foil at home.
Postcard from the North
The City of Karlskrona from the air
In other news
🎶 Melodifestivalen 2026 will kick off on January 31 in Linköping and conclude with the final in Stockholm on March 7. The competition will tour six cities, including Sundsvall, which hosts for the first time in 15 years, and Kristianstad, marking only its second appearance in the festival’s history. A record 3,888 entries were submitted, from which 30 songs will be selected to compete for the coveted trophy.
🚓 Since Sweden’s new law on insulting public officials took effect in July, police officers have filed a flood of complaints. Legal analyst Mårten Schultz criticizes that insults—once prosecuted only in serious cases—are now treated as a top priority, even as crimes like theft and fraud often go unpunished. Aftonbladet’s Oisín Cantwell also mocks officers for reporting minor name-calling such as “nerd” and “hobo,” arguing the law has brought ridicule rather than respect to the police.
🌉 Flooding on the Danish side of the Öresund Bridge caused severe traffic jams, leaving many travelers stranded and some walking with luggage toward Copenhagen Airport. Airport officials confirmed that several passengers missed their flights, though the exact number is unknown. Police urged travelers to use public transport instead, as tensions rose on the roads with reports of drivers trying to bypass queues.
Sweden Considers Tougher Laws After Chaotic Protests Near Parliament
Attribution: Chef.se
The Swedish government is weighing new restrictions on demonstrations after a string of incidents targeting lawmakers raised alarm bells about political safety.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer met Monday with party leaders, the parliamentary speaker, and security officials to discuss how to better protect elected representatives. The talks were prompted by last week’s episode in which Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin was chased by shouting pro-Palestinian activists as he left parliament. Strömmer said the incident was one of several unacceptable examples in recent months. Police have since pledged round-the-clock reinforcements around the parliament building.
Among the measures on the table: expanding the protected zone around the legislature and giving police broader powers to alter the time and location of protests if security is at risk. The government is also looking at whether penalties for harassment and threats—common during demonstrations—are too lenient. Still, Strömmer stressed that Sweden’s constitutional protections for free expression and assembly remain off-limits.
The opposition Social Democrats agreed on the seriousness of the issue but pushed the government to move from broad promises to a concrete action plan. Party veteran Anders Ygeman said harassment of politicians isn’t new and cuts across party lines nationwide, but he argued that the run-up to the next election makes a strong response urgent. One option, he said, could be stronger personal security for cabinet ministers and MPs.
“Of course we should be able to protect our elected officials and government better,” Ygeman said.
Swede-ish Notes
Uppsala Domkyrka
The Church Wants Your Vote
Every four years, Swedes head not only to political elections but also to the kyrkoval — the Church of Sweden’s nationwide vote. This is no small affair: the Church is still the country’s largest membership organization, with more than five million members, even though formal ties to the state ended back in 2000.
What makes the kyrkoval unique is the role of politics within it. Parties like the Social Democrats, Center Party, and Sweden Democrats all run candidates, just as if it were a municipal election. Critics argue that party politics has too much sway over spiritual matters, while defenders say it ensures transparency and democracy. In fact, the Social Democrats remain the single largest force in the church’s parliament, the kyrkomötet.
Opposing them are independent church groups such as Posk and Frimodig kyrka, who want decision-making to grow from the bottom up — starting in local congregations rather than through national party structures. Beyond this institutional debate, other issues like climate, inclusion, and the Church’s social role are also on the ballot.
Still, many ordinary members admit they find the kyrkoval confusing. Perhaps the paradox is this: even in one of the world’s most secular countries, politics and faith remain deeply entangled — even though many believe they shouldn’t be.