Voting is underway in Sweden’s general election, marking a pivotal moment that could see the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) entering government for the first time or a return to centre-left leadership. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday, with a record 3.6 million voters having already participated in early voting. Early exit polls released at 8 p.m. indicated a narrow advantage for the centre-left bloc.
According to preliminary forecasts from Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT, the left-leaning alliance—comprising the Social Democrats, the Centre Party, the Green Party, and the Left Party—is projected to secure approximately 51.3% of the vote. The right-leaning coalition, made up of the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals, supported by the Sweden Democrats, was estimated to receive around 46.8%. If confirmed, these results would represent a shift away from the incumbent centre-right government and a reduction in SD’s standing from the second to the third largest party.
The election campaign was notably acrimonious and highly polarized, characterized by personal attacks, accusations of misinformation, and controversial advertising tactics. The Sweden Democrats, a party with roots in neo-Nazi movements, has worked over recent years to moderate its rhetoric while emphasizing concerns over immigration and its alleged connection to rising crime. Ahead of the election, SD adopted a more assertive posture, with threats of securing key ministerial positions should the right-wing coalition retain power. Their campaign slogan, “Make Sweden Sweden Again,” echoed Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again,” and included provocative ads — such as one referencing Mogadishu tied to repatriation policies — which were withdrawn after public backlash and disputes with bus drivers.
SD’s leader, Jimmie Åkesson, faced criticism for comments made during a televised debate, where he questioned Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson’s demeanor. Meanwhile, Gustav Gellerbrant, another prominent SD politician, drew scrutiny following investigations linking his Russian-born partner to alleged Russian propaganda activities. Gellerbrant dismissed the allegations as isolated and has since taken leave.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderates, focused much of his late campaign on issues of crime and sentencing policies, accusing Andersson of failing to support female victims of sexual violence. Andersson responded by accusing Kristersson of exploiting violence against women for political gain.
Voters identified healthcare, law enforcement, immigration, and the economy as the most pressing concerns in the election. Observers noted that much of the debate revolved around promises of increased financial support for households, leading to a campaign described as a competitive “auction” of welfare commitments.
Despite the exit polls favoring the centre-left coalition, political analysts caution that official results may take time to confirm. Regardless of the outcome, forming a stable government is expected to be a protracted process, potentially lasting several weeks or months of negotiations among parties. Magdalena Andersson cast her vote in the Stockholm suburb of Nacka, characterizing the election as a choice between “two sides” amid a campaign marked by both conflict and widespread public engagement.