‘The last campfire in Swedish society’: Sommar i P1, the radio show that unifies a nation

From tales of drinking a “very tasty” 100-year-old sherry with Putin to diplomatic shock over Finland’s entry into Nato without Sweden and the secret to happiness, surprisingly few subjects were off the table for a sitting president. Perhaps even more surprising was that Finnish head of state Sauli Niinistö was talking out of choice to an international broadcaster at a time of heightened sensitivity for the region and a political crisis at home – and all without the prompting of an interviewer.

Such candour has become expected from those who are chosen as (summer speakers) on , an annual Swedish radio institution in which guests are given 90 minutes to talk about a subject of their choice and play music. To be selected is considered such an honour that it’s