Sweden Election Ends in a Knife-Edge Result as Centre-Left Opposition Takes Narrow Lead

Sweden is facing political uncertainty after Sunday’s closely contested parliamentary election, with the centre-left opposition holding a narrow lead over the governing right-wing bloc.

With around 95% of votes counted, the centre-left bloc led by Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson is projected to win 176 of the 349 seats in the Riksdag, compared with 173 seats for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing bloc. A majority requires 175 seats.

The result means Andersson is currently in the strongest position to return as Sweden’s prime minister after four years in opposition.

However, the three-seat margin is extremely narrow, and the final result is still pending, with overseas and remaining ballots expected to be counted by Wednesday.

Sweden Democrats suffer major setback

One of the biggest surprises of the election was the performance of the Sweden Democrats (SD). The anti-immigration party received around 17.6% of the vote, down from 20.6% in the 2022 election.

The party dropped from second to third place, behind both the Social Democrats and Kristersson’s Moderates. It is also the first time the Sweden Democrats have lost support in a parliamentary election since entering the Riksdag in 2010.

Despite the setback, the Sweden Democrats remain an important force on the Swedish right. The party has played a major role in supporting Kristersson’s government since 2022 and has strongly influenced Sweden’s policies on immigration, integration and crime.

What happens next?

The election does not directly decide who becomes prime minister. The new balance of power in the Riksdag will determine who can secure enough parliamentary support to form a government.

Andersson now faces the difficult task of keeping the centre-left parties together, while Kristersson is also expected to explore whether he can build an alternative governing arrangement.

The new parliament is due to convene on 28 September, with negotiations over the formation of the next government expected to continue in the coming days.

For now, Sweden has a clear political frontrunner but no confirmed new government. The final vote count could still alter the balance in what has become one of Sweden’s closest elections in years.