The center-left coalition led by the prime minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, appears slightly ahead of the opposition bloc formed by right-wing and far-right parties in the legislative elections held this Sunday (11), according to an exit projection. The vote should also mark the advance of a nationalist party that defends anti-immigration policies.
A poll by public broadcaster SVT shows Andersson’s coalition with 49.8% of the vote, against 49.2% for the opposition parties. The narrow advantage should guarantee the centre-left bloc an absolute majority in Parliament with 176 seats, against 173 for the right and far-right bloc.
The poll also indicates significant growth of the Swedish Democrats, an ultra-right and anti-immigration party, which would have obtained 20.5% of the votes, against 17.5% in the voter election. The result should make the party the second largest political force in the Swedish Parliament, only behind Prime Minister Andersson’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which would have won 29.3% of the vote.
The centre-left parties have been in power for eight years and are seeking their third consecutive term in Sweden. This year, however, analysts say the campaign was dominated by themes favorable to the right-wing opposition, such as rising crime, problems with social integration and rising energy prices.
During the debates, candidates were urged to step up efforts to tackle gang crime, after a surge in shootings has unnerved voters. Rising inflation and the energy crisis following the invasion of Ukraine in February this year are also at the center of discussions.
In an attempt to get re-elected, Andersson allied with the green parties. “I voted for a Sweden where we continue to build on our strengths. Our ability to tackle society’s problems together, form a sense of community and respect each other,” the prime minister said after voting in a Stockholm suburb.
Andersson was finance minister before becoming Sweden’s first female prime minister a year ago. Her main rival, the leader of the Moderates, Ulf Kristersson, was considered the only candidate who could unite the right to defeat the left-wing coalition in power.
In recent years Kristersson has strengthened ties with the Swedish Democrats. Initially shunned by all other parties, the anti-immigration party and with white supremacists among its founders are increasingly integrated into the main opposition bloc.
“Regardless of what happens tonight, the most important thing for me, for us, for all Swedish Democrats across the country, is the damn 175 seats so that we can finally bring about a power shift and our pro-Sweden policy.” told supporters Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Swedish Democrats.
The big loser in the elections must be the Moderate Party, which, according to projections, garnered between 16% and 18.8% of the votes. The result should make the party fall to the third political force in the country, losing its status as the main opposition force.
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