Sweden Today:

Sweden reacts / Lofven and party leaders react to election result / Trump's victory may have serious consequences / Snow chaos in Stockholm / Perfume-free week in Sweden 

  • Snow chaos in Stockholm on Nov. 8

  • Sweden reacts
    (World) It was just after 6 a.m. when headlines in Sweden began announcing Donald Trump as the President Elect of the United States. Many in the Nordic nation were as stunned as their American allies and some reacted with anger. “America’s Democracy is a joke” wrote Åsa Linderborg of Aftonbladet. (When in reality it's the other way around; regardless of opinion, the American people elected a complete outsider to leader of the nation. The people spoke. That is democracy. /Ed.) “Trump’s Victory has Serious Consequences” wrote Olle Råde of Göteborgs Posten. “World Dictators applaud America’s Choice” writes Michael Winiarski of Dagens Nyheter, accompanied by a graphic of Trump kissing Putin. Despite the screaming headlines, the atmosphere in the street is one of quiet disbelief and uncertainty about the future.

  • The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association is calling on people to avoid wearing perfume while in public.

  • Löfven and party leaders react to election result
    (National) Prime Minister Stefan Löfven called the election result in the United States “worrisome” but also reassured the people that it was something the Swedish government had prepared for. Stating he would have preferred a Clinton victory, he nonetheless expressed desire to strive for good relations with the U.S. Foreign Minister Margot Wallström stated the change will bring an opportunity to discuss conduct for the future. Wallström meets with other foreign ministers on Monday. Annie Lööf expressed deeper concerns and called Trump a “dangerous populist.” Several have expressed concern regarding NATO cooperation.

  • Snow chaos in Stockholm

  • Trump's victory has serious consequences
    (National) Mats Karlsson, director of the Foreign Policy Institute, believes last night’s election results will have serious consequences for both Sweden and European cooperation, and calls the Republican victory “very very worrying.” "To call it disturbing is an understatement and now we will see what he actually does,” and, “The type of collaboration required in today’s world is not the type Trump stands for.”

  • As U.S. election results filtered in, snow fell on Sweden’s capital making travel difficult and closing schools.

  • Snow chaos in Stockholm
    (Stockholm) As U.S. election results filtered in, snow fell on Sweden’s capital making travel difficult and closing schools. The city was hit by heavy snowfall and buses, trucks and cars fought to make their way through streets covered in snow drifts with no apparent emergency snow removal. Hundreds of people were forced to abandon their cars on the highway and walk into the city or return home. Reasons for the lack of preparedness range from municipality oversight to budget concerns to winter snow tires. Snowfall also created air traffic delays throughout the country.

  • Perfume-free week in Sweden
    (Lifestyle) Ulf Brändström, Secretary General of the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, is calling on people to avoid wearing perfume while in public. The association has launched an initiative for a perfume-free week to help make life easier for those with a perfume intolerance. “About six percent of the Swedish population is sensitive to perfume and have difficulties in their daily lives,” Brändström told Swedish Radio.