Preliminary results from Sweden’s parliamentary election held Sunday showed a close contest between the governing right-wing bloc and the opposition center-left bloc, with the next government potentially being decided by just one seat.
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With more than 80% of the votes counted, the center-left opposition bloc, led by Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democratic Party, was ahead with around 175 seats, compared with 174 for the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Vote counting was still underway.
A bloc needs 175 seats to secure a majority in Sweden’s 349-seat parliament, making the current margin particularly significant, especially as early and overseas ballots continue to be counted and could alter the final result. The latest projections suggested the gap could widen to 176 seats against 173, but the final outcome remained undecided.
The election comes amid the possibility of Andersson returning as prime minister after previously holding the post, while Kristersson is seeking to retain power after leading the government since 2022.
The Sweden Democrats are expected to play a key role in determining the formation of the next government. The populist right-wing party was a major supporter of Kristersson’s government in recent years, while preliminary results indicated that its share of the vote had declined compared with the previous election, costing it its position as the country’s second-largest political force.
Meanwhile, the center-left bloc faces internal challenges over several issues, including immigration, economic policy and energy, potentially making it more difficult to form a stable government even if it secures a parliamentary majority.
Vote counting is expected to continue over the coming days, including early and overseas ballots, before the final result is announced. Attention is focused on the prospects for forming the next government and negotiations between the parties, with reports suggesting that the outcome may not be settled until at least Wednesday.
