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The Old Country Newsletter – Spermadonator, Jämställdhet & Kronprinsessan
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip G
December 12, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, December 12.
This week, new numbers from Plikt- och prövningsverket offered an interesting contrast to Sweden’s self-image as one of the world’s most gender-equal nations. Despite a political consensus that both men and women should be called to serve, seven out of ten young women say they do not want to do “värnplikten”, compared to roughly four out of ten young men.
Researchers see no biological explanation. Instead, they point to tradition, socialization, and how the role of the military has shifted over the past decades. Still, the gap is striking – and a reminder that even in a country proud to call itself “jämställt”, old patterns can run deep.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Phil
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Word of the week
BRUS [broos]
noise; background noise; static.
A Danish Sperm Donor Linked to Nearly 200 Children – and a Cancer-Causing Mutation – Triggers Scandal, Investigation, and Ethical Outrage
Attribution: Omni News
European authorities are scrambling after an international investigation revealed that a Danish sperm donor, known as “Kjeld,” fathered at least 197 children across 14 countries—despite carrying a genetic mutation linked to childhood cancers.
For nearly two decades, donor 7069—alias “Kjeld”—provided sperm to the European Sperm Bank (ESB), one of the world’s largest fertility providers. Neither he nor the bank knew that up to 19 percent of his sperm carried a TP53 gene mutation associated with a significantly elevated risk of leukemia, brain tumors, and bone cancers in children. The mutation was first confirmed in 2023, by which point dozens of children had already been conceived. According to new reporting by the EBU investigative network, at least 197 children worldwide are biological offspring of the donor; several have developed cancer, and some have died. Swedish authorities have been informed that at least 22 affected children were conceived by Swedish women treated at Danish clinics.
European regulators say that not all families have been notified—despite early testing being potentially lifesaving. ESB cites data-protection laws as a barrier to disclosing how many children were born from the donor’s samples, adding that the mutation would not have been detectable under standard screening. Danish regulators have now filed a police report against ESB, citing undisclosed concerns, and pledged to follow the case “to the end” to protect families seeking fertility treatment.
The scandal has triggered sharp ethical criticism. Sweden’s National Council on Medical Ethics calls the situation a “medical-ethical failure,” pointing to fragmented international rules, inconsistent reporting, and fertility tourism that allowed Kjeld’s sperm to be used far beyond intended limits. Sweden is now exploring a national donor registry, but ethicists warn that without EU-level regulation, similar cases may recur.
Postcard from the North
Öland
In other news
📱 A new study from the Karolinska Institute, following more than 8,000 U.S. children from ages 9 to 13, links heavy use of social media to gradually worsening concentration, while finding no similar effect from video games or TV. Researchers suggest that constant interruptions — or even the anticipation of them — may explain why platforms like Instagram and Facebook impair attention. Although the individual impact is small, they argue that increased social-media use could significantly raise ADHD diagnoses at the population level, especially among children who already struggle with attention.
🌎 In an interview with Politico, Donald Trump harshly criticized European political leaders, calling them weak and overly politically correct, and claimed Europe is a “continent in decline.” He singled out Sweden as an example, saying it has gone from a safe country to an unsafe one due to high immigration, despite expressing affection for the Swedish people. Trump also said he intends to support European politicians who align with his vision—citing Hungary’s Viktor Orbán—and the interview comes shortly after the White House released a new U.S. security strategy warning of a potential “civilizational extinction” in Europe.
🎵 Musikhjälpen 2025 in Karlstad set a new fundraising record, collecting 74,601,867 kronor after a 144-hour live broadcast hosted by Assia Dahir, Linnea Wikblad, and Hampus Hedström. This year’s theme was “All children have the right to go to school,” and thousands of individuals, organizations, and artists contributed, including numerous performances throughout the week. With over 9,000 digital fundraising jars and more than 70,000 song requests, the total surpassed the previous record from 2017, which Radiohjälpen praised as a testament to the importance of children’s right to education.
Tidö Leaders Map Out a Second-Term Game Plan – But Still Dodge the Government Question
Attribution: SVT Nyheter
Sweden’s four Tidö parties huddled at Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s home in Strängnäs this week, emerging with a shared roadmap for the next mandate period—but no clarity on who would actually govern together after the 2026 election.
The gathering, held over a working lunch of wild-game lasagna, was pitched as a show of unity rather than a venue for unveiling a joint election platform. Kristersson said the parties—Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Sweden Democrats—had agreed on broad priorities centered on economic growth, integration policy, and cracking down on everyday crime. Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch called the group “hungry to deliver more solutions that matter in people’s daily lives.”
A written document of roughly 8,000 characters now outlines the coalition’s shared direction on issues like crime and schools. All four leaders stressed their intention to keep collaborating for another four years. Yet the elephant in the room—what a post-2026 government would look like—remains firmly unresolved. The Liberals continue to reject any arrangement that gives the Sweden Democrats cabinet seats, while SD leader Jimmie Åkesson maintains that ministerial roles are a red line for supporting a prime minister.
Still, the meeting produced upbeat signals. Åkesson said he looks forward to “another four years,” and Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson described the talks as a foundation for a renewed Tidö Agreement. Kristersson emphasized that no decisions had been made on future cabinet compositions but insisted the united front shows the bloc is ready to steer Sweden through major challenges—from defense buildup to energy reforms and continued support for Ukraine.
Swede-ish Notes
Attribution: Försvarsmakten
The Crown Princess in a JAS Gripen
It’s not every day Sweden’s future head of state straps into the backseat of a Jas 39 Gripen and heads off to defend Swedish bridges from “enemy aircraft.” But that’s exactly what happened this autumn, when Crown Princess Victoria continued her officers’ training with a deep dive into the world of the Swedish Air Force.
Victoria has been working her way through Försvarsmakten’s branches—last year marine tactics, this year the sky—and the Luleå-based 212th Fighter Squadron gave her the full experience. Before takeoff, she was briefed on how modern air operations are led and planned, then went airborne in formation with a four-ship unit that practiced air combat against two hostile jets. According to the instructors, she was focused, engaged, and impressed with both the tactics and the teamwork.
Beyond the flight itself, the Crown Princess toured everything from air-defense systems in Halmstad to space operations at Esrange. She tried flight simulators, met pilots fresh from NATO missions in Poland, learned about counter-drone systems, and even named a command center—something her father once did as well.
And while all of this is undeniably part of her education as future commander-in-chief, it also has another effect: it’s very good advertisement for Försvarsmakten. In a moment when Sweden is rethinking defense, shifting resources, and settling into NATO, a popular, down-to-earth Crown Princess suiting up in flight gear sends a clear message. It says the military is modern, serious, competent—and something everyday Swedes might feel just a little more connected to.