Sweden’s political landscape shifted following the Sunday general election, with the left-leaning opposition securing a narrow majority in the 349-seat Riksdag. The finalized vote count showed that the four opposition parties won 176 seats, giving them a slim three-seat advantage over the right-leaning coalition, which together with the far-right Sweden Democrats, garnered 173 seats.

Ulf Kristersson, leader of the centre-right Moderate Party and prime minister since 2022, announced his resignation shortly after the results were confirmed. In a letter to the parliamentary speaker, Kristersson formally stepped down, setting the stage for his predecessor, Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats, to attempt to form a government. Andersson’s Social Democrats remained the largest single party with 99 seats, despite losing eight compared to the previous election.

In her victory speech, Andersson emphasized a mandate for unity and change, outlining priorities including the climate crisis, education, healthcare, elderly care, and immigration policy. She has invited the Left Party, the Centre Party, and the Greens—three left-leaning parties—to begin initial coalition talks. However, the prospects for coalition-building appear complex, given ideological tensions within the opposition bloc.

One major obstacle is the reluctance of the Centre Party to join a government including the Left Party, which has insisted on a government role in exchange for its support. Policy differences further complicate negotiations: while the Greens, Social Democrats, and Left favor tax increases, the Centre Party advocates for tax cuts. The Greens also oppose nuclear energy, in contrast with other parties. These substantive disagreements suggest that reaching a stable coalition may require protracted negotiations.

The Centre Party leader, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, acknowledged the election marked a political transition but emphasized her party’s intention to contribute constructively to forming a functional government. Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar hailed the election as a clear mandate for change away from the previous ruling coalition.

Kristersson’s government had depended on support from the Sweden Democrats, a party with far-right origins that has increasingly moved toward the political mainstream. Ahead of the election, Kristersson had indicated the Sweden Democrats could secure key ministerial posts if the government was returned. However, the Sweden Democrats lost ground, slipping from second to third place in terms of seats, with their parliamentary representation reduced by 11 to 62 seats.

Despite some speculation, it remains unlikely that the Social Democrats and Moderates will form a coalition given Sweden’s political traditions. Andersson is reportedly seeking broader cooperation across several parties, possibly including arrangements short of formal coalitions. Minority governments and agreements outside of coalition governments are common in Sweden.

The parliamentary speaker, Andreas Norlén, will commence consultations with party representatives to propose a candidate for prime minister and facilitate government formation. The talks are expected to take several weeks, during which time Andersson faces the challenge of balancing the diverse priorities and demands within the opposition bloc while crafting a viable governing coalition.