Sweden’s parliamentary election remains too close to call after the vote count on Monday night, with left-leaning parties holding a narrow lead of just one seat as the final results continue to be tallied. With approximately 80% of votes counted, the left bloc, led by the Social Democrats under Magdalena Andersson, held 175 seats compared to 174 for the right-wing coalition headed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the Moderates.
Initial exit polls and forecasts suggested a potential shift toward a left-leaning government, but as counting progressed, the margin narrowed significantly, prompting a delay in the announcement of a definitive outcome. The Swedish election authority indicated that a preliminary count might not be available until Thursday, prolonging uncertainty over which coalition will form the next government.
Speaking shortly before midnight local time, Andersson, whose party remained the largest despite what appeared to be its worst electoral performance in decades, emphasized the importance of counting every vote before drawing conclusions. “Now we will have to wait for the final election results. But my message is clear: we Social Democrats will always be ready to take responsibility for the result. It seems like it will be very even,” she said. “Right now we are leading. If it stands, then Sweden will have a new government. But we have to wait for the final result, so let me end where I began, in democracy, the finest thing we have.”
The election also marked a setback for the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), who aimed to enter government for the first time but slipped to become the third-largest party. The party, which has neo-Nazi origins but has attempted to moderate its rhetoric ahead of the election, plays a significant supporting role in the current right-wing coalition. During the campaign, SD adopted a more assertive posture, demanding prominent ministerial positions should the right coalition retain power.
Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch, leader of the Christian Democrats and a member of the right-leaning Tidö coalition alongside the Moderates and Liberals, acknowledged the prolonged wait for results during a speech to supporters. “This is a very clear message for the only unified government alternative in this election campaign,” she said. “This will be a real nail biter, this could be uncertain until Wednesday.” Busch expressed confidence that the right-leaning coalition should remain in government.
The campaign preceding the election was notably divisive and highly polarized, marked by personal attacks among party leaders, accusations of misinformation campaigns, and contentious advertisements inspired by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s populist style. Polling data before the election indicated an exceptionally close contest, with some surveys showing the left and right blocs separated by as little as 0.3 percentage points.
Voter turnout appeared robust, with a record 3.6 million early votes cast and reports of long queues at polling stations nationwide. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time, and the first exit polls were released at 8 p.m., followed by a forecast from public broadcaster SVT an hour later.
Regardless of the final outcome, coalition negotiations are expected to be protracted. The right-wing Tidö coalition has governed for the past four years, relying on the Sweden Democrats’ support, while the left bloc includes the Social Democrats, the Centre Party, the Green Party, and the Left Party. Should the right maintain power, the Sweden Democrats have been promised greater formal influence within the government, including key ministerial roles, which represents a significant shift in Swedish politics given the party’s controversial history.