In recent days, the vacuum cleaner has gained a prominent role in the debate on social media.
The cleaning device has become a symbol in the discussion that has taken place about the supply of electricity in Sweden - and about nuclear power.
During the most strenuous hours, Sweden has imported electricity from Poland and Germany, among others.
This has happened before, and on an annual basis we export significantly more than we import.
New debate on nuclear power
But the situation has also put new focus on the decision to close the Ringhals 1 and 2 nuclear power reactors. Ringhals 1 was taken out of operation in December 2020. The closure has reduced the supply of electricity, which leads to higher prices when it is cold and demand rises.
The electricity debate was given new life after a feature on SVT where vacuuming was used as an example of how consumers can think when electricity prices risk rising.
The vacuum cleaner has since been given a symbolic leading role on social media and in the political debate.
Professor: Not the first time we're having this debate
Sören Holmberg, professor emeritus of political science at the SOM Institute at the University of Gothenburg, has followed the nuclear issue for decades - and has seen the debate before.
- It is not the first time we get a little windless and it gets cold that we get this type of debate.
We have a problem with the electricity supply in Sweden, especially in the south, he says to SVT Nyheter.
He has also seen how public opinion can swing.
- The big turnaround in Sweden when it comes to nuclear power, it started with the decommissioning of Barsebäck.
Then public opinion clearly swung in the other direction - when we started to remove something, then the majority of the people wanted to keep it.
See how the discussion goes on social media, and hear Sören Holmberg explain why the question has such explosive power, in the video above!