Sweden holds general election as tight race pits right bloc against left
Sweden is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday, with a right-wing bloc backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats facing a Social Democrat-led opposition in a razor-thin contest. Results are expected late in the evening.
Sweden went to the polls on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could determine whether the far right enters government for the first time. Polling stations opened at 8am local time and were due to close at 8pm local time (7pm UK).
Current prime minister Ulf Kristersson, leader of the centre-right Moderates, broke a longstanding political taboo in 2022 by striking a deal with the far-right Sweden Democrats to form a minority coalition government. That agreement gave the Sweden Democrats outsized influence over policy, particularly on crime and immigration. Kristersson has since gone further, promising the party ministerial posts if his government is returned to power.
The opposition, known as the "red" bloc, is led by former prime minister Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats. Her bloc's lead has narrowed considerably in the final days of campaigning to less than one percentage point, setting up an extremely close contest.
When to expect results
After polls close at 8pm local time (7pm UK), public broadcaster SVT and private broadcaster TV4 will release exit poll results. Actual results are expected to start coming in shortly afterwards, with SVT planning to publish a more detailed forecast around 9pm local time. Party leaders are expected to hold off on victory speeches until the picture becomes clearer.
Local elections for regional and municipal councils are being held on the same day, meaning voters are casting as many as three separate ballots.
