Sweden election: opposition parties lead by narrow margin
With 94% of votes counted in Sweden's parliamentary election, opposition parties are leading, with the Social Democrats in front, though it remains unclear who will form the next government.
With 94% of ballots processed in Sweden's Riksdag election, opposition parties hold the lead, according to broadcaster SVT, as cited by "European Pravda". The outcome remains uncertain — even the apparent winner, the Social Democrats led by Magdalena Andersson, cannot be sure of forming a government.
The Social Democrats received 28.1% of the vote. In second place with 19.9% is the Moderate Party, led by current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Third place, with 17.6%, went to the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats.
They were followed by the Left Party (8.2%), the Centre Party (7.1%), the Christian Democrats (6.2%), the Green Party (6.1%) and the Liberals (5.4%).
Seat distribution
Based on this vote split, Andersson together with likely coalition partners — the Centre Party, the Greens and the Left — would gain 176 seats in the Riksdag. The so-called Tidö coalition parties, together with the Sweden Democrats, would gain 173 seats.
Several months ago, opinion polls had predicted a more decisive opposition victory, but the gap between the potential opposition bloc and the Tidö parties has recently been narrowing.
Kristersson and other governing coalition parties had previously said they were ready to invite the Sweden Democrats into government — a party that has so far supported the coalition in votes without formally joining it. Such a step would mark the first time this controversial political force has taken part in government.
