2022 in Sweden explained

Events in the year 2022 in Sweden.

The year was dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sweden took in Ukrainian refugees fleeing the invasion of their country. Swedish government sent foreign aid to Ukraine, and condemned and sanctioned Russia for waging the war.

As the rest of Europe and in the world, Sweden continued to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and Deltacron hybrid variant, but much less so than in January 2020 and February 2022. The 2021–2023 inflation surge led to increased prices on many goods.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Carl XVI Gustaf^[1]
• Prime minister – Magdalena Andersson (until 18 October), Ulf Kristersson (from 18 October)

Events

January

• 4 January - King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden both test positive for Deltacron hybrid variant of COVID-19.^[2]
• 8 January - Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden tests positive for COVID-19 for a second time, likely from Deltacron hybrid variant.
• 14 January - Operation Barkhane: Sweden announces that it will withdraw its troops from a French-led special forces mission in Mali later this year, in response to Mali's ruling military junta inviting private Russian military contractors to fight Islamist rebels. The deployment was originally expected to end in 2024.^[3]
• 16 January - Military personnel from the Swedish Armed Forces are deployed to the island of Gotland in response to fears that Russia may attempt an invasion of Swedish territory amidst tensions between NATO and Russia over their intention to invade Ukraine.^[4]
• 24 January - The daily number of COVID-19 Deltacron infections has peaked in Sweden.

February

• 1 February - Sweden lifts almost all remaining COVID-19-related restrictions except for face mask rules due to the country's high vaccination rate.
• 25 February – Sweden joined Denmark and Norway were transition to the living with COVID-19 endemic phase.
• 28 February - Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announces that the country will send military equipment, including anti-tank launchers, to Ukraine, breaking with a doctrine of not sending arms to countries that are engaged in active conflict.^[5]

March

• 22 March - Two teachers are killed by a student during a stabbing attack at a secondary school in Malmö, Sweden. The perpetrator, an 18-year-old boy, is arrested.^[6]

April

• 15–17 April - Riots occur, several cities throughout Sweden, triggered by rallies where leader of the Danish Hard Line party Rasmus Paludan burns the Quran.

May

• 9 May - The Swedish Social Democratic Party announces that it will decide on May 15 whether to pursue a course of action to join NATO. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is expected to also announce Finland's intention to join NATO on May 12.^[7]
• 15 May - Sweden's governing Social Democratic Party approves the country joining NATO. The official government decision is expected in the coming days.^[8]
• 16 May -
  • Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson confirms the decision her party made on Sunday and formally announces Sweden's intent to join NATO.^[9]
  • In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin warns that Russia will react to the "expansion of military infrastructure" by NATO in Sweden and Finland, saying that "problems are being created for no reason at all. We shall react accordingly".^[10]
• 18 May - Finland and Sweden both formally apply to join NATO.^[11]

June

• 2 June - Sweden announces that it will send additional military aid to Ukraine, including anti-ship missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, and rifles for the Ukrainian Ground Forces.^[12]
• 21 June - Two people are injured, including one in critical condition, after a stabbing attack in Västerås.^[13]
• 28 June – Finland, Sweden, and Turkey sign a joint memorandum on security, clearing the way for Finland and Sweden's NATO accession bids.^[14]
• 30 June – Release of Sweden's first unisex folk costume, the Bäckadräkten, designed by Fredy Clue and ^[15]

July

• 5 July - All 30 members of NATO have signed off on the accession protocols for the membership bids of Finland and Sweden, which is subject to unanimous approval by the current members' legislative bodies.^[16]

August

• 19 August - A man is killed and a woman is injured in a shooting at the Emporia shopping centre in Malmö.^[17]
• 31 August - Sweden reports its first case of H5N1 bird flu in a porpoise.^[18]

September

• 11 September - The 2022 Swedish general election is held.^[19] The Sweden Democrats had seen their strongest result to date and had overtaken the Moderates to become the second largest party with 20.6% of the vote. The result was confirmed after the election.^[20]
• 29 September - 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage: Swedish authorities report a fourth gas leak from the Nord Stream pipelines.^[21]

October

• 1 October - The Sweden Democrats are allocated chairmanship of four parliamentary committees for the first time in the Riksdag with party secretary Richard Jomshof appointed to head the justice committee.^[22] The party also formed a deal with Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson to provide parliamentary support to a Moderate led government.^[23]
• 13 October - Swedish right-wing parties sign an agreement to form a government led by Ulf Kristersson. The government will include the Moderate Party, the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, and will be supported by the Sweden Democrats.^[24]
• 17 October - Ulf Kristersson is appointed Prime Minister of Sweden by the Parliament of Sweden.^[25]
• 18 October - Ulf Kristersson forms the Kristersson Cabinet, as he replaces Magdalena Andersson as Prime Minister of Sweden.^{[26] [27]}
• 24 October - The Swedish Museum of Wrecks announces that maritime archaeologists have discovered the wreck of the 17th-century warship Äpplet, believed to be the sister ship of Vasa, which sank off the island of Vaxholm near Stockholm in 1629.^[28]
• 30 October: Church of Sweden archbishop Antje Jackelén lays down her bishop's staff during a church service inside the Uppsala Cathedral.^[29]

November

• 18 November - Swedish authorities confirm intentional sabotage as the cause of the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions after traces of explosives were found at the site of the leaks.^[30]

December

• 4 December: Martin Modéus replaces Antje Jackelén as Church of Sweden archbishop.^[31]

Deaths

• 9 January: Per Knuts, 83, Olympic runner.^[32]
• 16 January: Sten Elliot, 96, Olympic sailor.^[33]
• 17 January: Björn Natthiko Lindeblad, 60, economist and Buddhist monk.^[34]
• 22 January: Johan Hultin, 97, Swedish-born American pathologist.^[35]
• 25 January: Fredrik Johansson, 47, Swedish heavy metal musician (Dark Tranquillity).^[36]
• 28 January: Elis Svärd, 25, golfer.^[37]
• 22 June: Jonny Nilsson, 79, ice speed skater.^[38]
• 6 July: Ing-Marie Wieselgren, 64, psychiatrist.^[39]
• 24 November: Borje Salming, 71, ice hockey player.^[40]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Carl XVI Gustaf king of Sweden Britannica . www.britannica.com . 26 April 2023 . 14 May 2023 . en.
2. Web site: Beals . Monique . 2022-01-04 . Swedish king, queen test positive for COVID-19 . 2022-12-30 . The Hill . en-US.
3. News: Napolitano . Ardee . Irish . John . 2022-01-14 . Sweden to withdraw from French-led special forces mission in Mali . en . Reuters . 2022-12-30.
4. Web site: 2022-01-19 . As Russia flexes its Baltic muscles, Sweden prepares for the worst . 2022-12-30 . euronews . en.
5. Web site: AFP . Staff Writer With . 2022-02-28 . Sweden to Send Arms to Ukraine in Break With Tradition: PM . 2022-12-30 . The Defense Post . en-US.
6. News: 2022-03-22 . Malmö: Two women killed after violent attack at Swedish school . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-12-30.
7. Web site: Sweden's ruling party to decide on NATO membership on May 15 . 2022-12-30 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
8. Web site: 2022-05-15 . Sweden's governing party backs NATO membership . 2022-12-30 . POLITICO . en-US.
9. Web site: 2022-05-16 . Turkey says it will not approve Sweden and Finland joining Nato . 2022-12-30 . the Guardian . en.
10. Web site: Putin warns Russia will respond if NATO boosts Finland and Sweden's military strength . 2022-12-30 . Sky News . en.
11. News: Emmott . Robin . Devranoglu . Nevzat . 2022-05-18 . Finland, Sweden apply to join NATO amid Turkish objections . en . Reuters . 2022-12-30.
12. News: 2022-06-02 . Sweden to supply more military aid including anti-ship missiles to Ukraine . en . Reuters . 2022-12-30.
13. Web site: 2022-06-21 . Teenager held after 2 stabbed in Swedish mall's parking area . 2022-12-30 . AP NEWS . en.
14. News: 2022-06-28 . Finnish President Niinisto says Turkey has agreed to back Finnish and Swedish NATO membership . en . Reuters . 2022-12-27.
15. News: Engström . Anne . June 26, 2022 . Bäckadräkten – en Folkdräkt fri från det Binära . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630162353/https://www.bt.se/kultur/backadrakten-en-folkdrakt-fri-fran-det-binara-577b08fa/ . June 30, 2022 . February 28, 2024 . Swedish.
16. Web site: 2022-07-05 . NATO nations sign accession protocols for Sweden, Finland . 2022-12-30 . AP NEWS . en.
17. News: 2022-08-19 . Sweden: Man dies in shooting at Malmo shopping centre . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-12-30.
18. Web site: World's first case of bird flu in porpoise: Sweden . 2022-12-30 . phys.org . en.
19. News: Högersidan med Kristersson i spetsen tog hem valsegern. SVT Nyheter. Marie Lundahl, Rufus O Jägemar. Swedish. 15 September 2022. 15 September 2022.
20. Web site: Anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats celebrate election gains . 12 September 2022 . . 12 September 2022.
21. Web site: Fourth leak revealed on Nord Stream pipelines as Russia denies sabotage . 2022-12-30 . Sky News . en.
22. Web site: Sweden: Right-wing party get 4 chairmanships in parliament . 1 October 2022 . . 2 October 2022.
23. Web site: Sweden Democrats, far-right party, part of government for 1st time ever . 1 October 2022 . . 17 October 2022.
24. Web site: 2022-10-14 . Så blir Tidöavtalet: Liberalerna i regeringen – SD utanför . 2022-12-30 . DN.SE . sv.
25. News: Ulf Kristersson framröstad som tillträdande statsminister. SVT Nyheter. Dante Thomsen. Swedish. 17 October 2022. 18 October 2022.
26. News: Här är Sveriges nya ministrar. SVT Nyheter. Albin Lindström. Swedish. 18 October 2022. 18 October 2022.
27. News: Oppositionen kritiserar Kristerssons nya regering. SVT Nyheter. Manfred Nyberg. Swedish. 18 October 2022. 18 October 2022.
28. Web site: Stockholm . Agence France-Presse in . 2022-10-24 . Swedish archaeologists find 17th-century warship . 2022-12-30 . the Guardian . en.
29. News: Ärkebiskopen går i pension. SVT Uppsala. Swedish. 30 October 2022. 13 November 2022.
30. News: Ringstrom . Anna . Solsvik . Terje . 2022-11-18 . Nord Stream leaks confirmed as sabotage, Sweden says . en . Reuters . 2022-12-30.
31. Web site: Nye ärkebiskopen Martin Modéus välkomnades i Uppsala. SVT Nyheter. Swedish. 4 December 2022. 3 January 2022.
32. Web site: Olympedia – Per Knuts . 2022-12-30 . www.olympedia.org.
33. Web site: Olympedia – Sten Elliot . 2022-12-30 . www.olympedia.org.
34. Web site: Bresciani/TT . Claudio . Björn Natthiko Lindeblad död . 2022-12-30 . www.hbl.fi . 18 January 2022 . sv-FI.
35. Web site: Johan Hultin Obituary (1924 - 2022) - Walnut Creek, CA - San Francisco Chronicle . 2022-12-30 . Legacy.com.
36. Web site: Childers . Chad. Former Dark Tranquillity Guitarist Fredrik Johansson Has Died . 2022-12-30 . Loudwire . 28 January 2022 . en.
37. Web site: Lovande golfspelaren död – blev 25 år . 2022-12-30 . LT . 2 February 2022 . sv.
38. News: Skridskolegendaren Jonny Nilsson död. SVT Sport. Gustaf Ränkeskog. Swedish. 22 June 2022. 27 June 2022.
39. Web site: 6 July 2022. Ing-Marie Wieselgren, 64, knivmördades i Visby. Aftonbladet. 6 July 2022. Ericson. Adrian. sv.
40. News: Börje Salming har gått bort. SVT Sport. Viktor Runsten. Swedish. 24 November 2022. 27 November 2022.