Sweden's centre-left bloc holds narrow lead in elections

Sweden's centre-left opposition ⁠bloc is projected to win a one-seat majority in the general election, according to ‌the ⁠Swedish election authority.

The alliance, headed by Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson, is ‌expected to win 175 ⁠seats ‌in the 349-seat parliament,

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing bloc was seen winning 174 seats.

The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who are a part of the right-wing alliance, have lost support for the first time since it entered parliament in 2010, with 17.7% of the vote, down from 20.5% in 2022.

"Of course it's a bit of a disappointment that we are not the second-biggest party anymore in these polls. But it's still not finished, it can still change," Julia Kronlid, a Sweden Democrat member of parliament said just after exit polls had showed the party retreating.

Local experts predicted that the election could go down to the wire.

In the event of a left-wing victory, the four parties will enter negotiations to form a government, as they are splintered ideologically.

"I am confident that Magdalena is a skilled negotiator, and that she has a plan to make it work... It might take a bit of time, but we will get a government led by Magdalena," said Emilia Wikstrom Melin, a 40-year-old union analyst.

Mr Kristersson has headed a minority coalition backed by the Sweden Democrats for four years, giving the far-right influence over policy in exchange for support in parliament.

Two exit polls broadcast after voting had finished both gave the left-wing alliance 51.3% of votes.

However, Swedish exit polls have not always proved accurate.

In 2022, an exit poll projected a left-wing bloc victory, but the election was ultimately won by a right-wing coalition .

Sweden's centre-left opposition held a narrow lead over the ruling right-wing bloc ahead of today's election for parliament, several opinion polls showed this week.

But Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who has trailed in opinion polls throughout his four years in office, has been catching up in the final weeks of campaigning, with rival Magdalena Andersson and her Social Democrats losing ground.

Mr Kristersson, who has governed for four years with the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats from outside his coalition, has said he will bring them formally into government if his bloc wins, breaking a longstanding taboo.

"The precondition for getting things done is actually the ability to compromise, to have a clear vision but be pragmatic," he said in his home town where he voted. "If we get people's votes we will continue to do that for the coming four years."

Electoral success for the Sweden Democrats would be welcomed by Europe's ascendant far-right parties, buoyed by the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany's win in a German state election last week.

The far right hopes for gains in upcoming elections across Europe, with the National Rally's bid for the presidency of France next year the biggest potential prize yet.

The centre left says Mr Kristersson has crossed a line by inviting the Sweden Democrats into power.

"It's a very important election for Sweden, if we for the first time should have a right-wing extremist party founded by neo-Nazis in government, or a government led by me," ms Andersson told media as she cast her own vote.

The Sweden Democrats acknowledge that their party was founded in part by neo-Nazis and white supremacists in the 1980s but say they have eliminated such extremists from their ranks and apologised for their past.

'Doesn't look like Sweden'

Voting yesterday in Rinkeby, near Stockholm, the Sweden Democrats' longstanding leader Jimmie Akesson said the suburb, home to one of the country's biggest Swedish-Somali populations, "doesn't look like Sweden".

Sweden was long one of Europe's most welcoming countries for immigrants. But since Mr Kristersson came to power four years ago, policies have shifted starkly. Permanent residency for refugees was abolished, welfare rules tightened, and expulsions stepped up for those without a right to stay.

"They target Muslims. They single out Muslims and immigrants. But immigrants contribute to society," said Kahin Ahmed, 57, a sociologist who came to Sweden from Somalia as a refugee.

The Sweden Democrats have pledged to go further, including banning face-covering women's dress if they get into government. Akesson told Reuters such dress "reflects values that I don't think belong in Sweden".

Supporters of Sweden's right-wing bloc say a win would amount to an endorsement of policies that have helped curb gang violence and cut immigration dramatically.

Johanna Tornqvist, 44, a market analyst who voted for the right-wing coalition, said fears surrounding the prospect of the Sweden Democrats joining the government had been exaggerated.

"The most important thing is to keep the red-greens out of government," she said.

But Susanne Cherment, a 20-year-old student voting for the first time at a polling station in Nacka, east of Stockholm, said she thought it was "scary" that young people were drawn to the far right.

The right has already agreed to form a four-party government led by Mr Kristersson if they win.

Ms Andersson's path to power is more uncertain with divisions among opposition parties.

Her Social Democrats have been losing ground in opinion polls despite support from celebrities including ABBA's Benny Andersson, no relation, who changed the lyrics in the refrain of "Mamma Mia" to "Magdalena" at a rally where he performed this week.

The election could ultimately be decided by whether a small party in Mr Kristersson's coalition, the Liberals, surpass the 4% threshold to win seats.