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Exit polls released following Sweden’s election indicate a lead for the left-wing bloc, suggesting a potential shift in the country’s parliamentary power. According to the data provided by broadcaster SVT, the left-wing bloc holds 51.3 percent of the projected vote, compared to 46.8 percent for the incumbent centre-right coalition, known as the Tidö coalition.
The Social Democrats remain the largest party in parliament with a projected 28.4 percent of the vote, a decrease from their 2022 election result. The Moderates are projected to receive 18.1 percent, placing them ahead of the Sweden Democrats, who are polling at 17.2 percent. This represents a 3.3 percent drop for the Sweden Democrats compared to the previous election.
The Liberal Party, which had faced polling numbers below the 4 percent parliamentary threshold for much of the last four years, is projected to secure 5.4 percent of the vote. Party secretary Fredrik Brange and MP Martin Melin expressed optimism regarding the party’s ability to remain in parliament.
Reactions among political figures were mixed as parties awaited final counts. Sweden Democrat MP Björn Söder expressed surprise at the results, stating he had expected his party to maintain its position as the second-largest in the country. Meanwhile, representatives from the Moderate Party urged caution, noting that exit polls in the 2022 election proved to be inaccurate.
Karin Enström, party secretary for the Moderates, emphasized that it remains too early to determine the final outcome. She noted that even if the current projections hold, the left-wing parties may face significant challenges in forming a stable government due to internal policy differences between the Left Party and the Centre Party.
The Left Party, which saw its projected vote share rise to 8 percent, indicated an interest in holding government ministerial positions. Conversely, the Centre Party, which polled at 7.5 percent, has expressed opposition to the Left Party joining the government. Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson will be tasked with navigating these differing positions if the left-wing bloc secures a majority.
Other parties in the left-wing bloc also saw gains, with the Green Party projected to receive 7.4 percent of the vote. Within the ruling coalition, the Christian Democrats are projected to receive 6.1 percent, an increase of 0.8 percent from 2022.
The final results remain subject to change as the official vote count continues.
Article and image source: thelocal.se
