Stockholm – Preliminary results from Sweden’s parliamentary election show a very close contest between the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the centre-left opposition bloc led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, in a race that remains open to several possibilities ahead of the final results.
According to estimates by the Swedish Election Authority, the centre-left bloc has won 175 seats in the 349-seat parliament, compared with 174 seats for the right-wing bloc, as the counting of votes continues, including some early and overseas ballots.
The narrow margin means that forming the next government could prove complicated, as the political blocs will need to build alliances capable of securing parliamentary support for a government, while the final outcome remains dependent on the completion of the vote count.
The election has also sparked extensive debate over the future of the far-right Sweden Democrats, which holds a pivotal position within the right-wing camp, after Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson became more open to bringing the party into government. This marks a departure from the political barriers that had long surrounded the party because of its roots in extremist right-wing and neo-Nazi circles.
Meanwhile, Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democratic Party and former prime minister, is seeking a return to the premiership if the centre-left camp maintains its lead, amid expectations that negotiations to form a government could be lengthy and complicated due to the extremely close result between the two blocs.
The election comes amid growing concerns over issues related to immigration, security, the economy and social services, while Swedes await the final results that will determine the shape of the country’s next government.
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