SWEDISH ELECTION: Final result not expected until Wednesday as blocs neck and neck

Sweden’s general election remains too close to call as the country awaits a final vote count, which is not expected until Wednesday, September 16. With more than half of the districts counted, the two major political blocs are separated by a narrow margin, leaving the composition of the next government uncertain.

As of late election night, the Swedish Election Authority reported a preliminary seat distribution of 175 for the left-wing bloc and 174 for the right-wing bloc. The final result will depend on the counting of outstanding ballots, including early votes that arrived late at polling stations and votes cast from abroad. In the 2022 election, approximately 224,000 such votes were processed in the days following the election.

Incumbent Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party stated that he intends to await the final results before conceding. While acknowledging that Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson may attempt to form a government with the Left, Green, and Centre parties, Kristersson argued that there is a potential “non-socialist” majority that he wishes to explore. He noted that the Centre Party shares significant economic common ground with the right-wing bloc, though the Centre Party has previously ruled out participating in a government reliant on the Sweden Democrats.

Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats, expressed optimism regarding the preliminary figures, stating that if the current trend holds, it would result in a change of government. However, she acknowledged the complexity of forming a coalition, as the potential partners hold differing views on policy and ministerial representation.

Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, noted that while his party saw a decrease in support compared to previous projections, the four-party “Tidö coalition”—comprising the Sweden Democrats, Moderates, Liberals, and Christian Democrats—managed to recover significant ground from earlier polling deficits.

The election saw a high level of participation, with over 3 million people casting early votes. The Swedish Election Authority also addressed a technical glitch that affected a limited number of polling stations, advising voters who cast ballots at those specific locations during certain times to vote again to ensure their participation is recorded correctly.

Political analysts have cautioned that exit polls should be interpreted with care, noting that the 2022 election saw a shift in the final outcome after the initial counts. The official verification of all votes is scheduled to continue through September 16.

Article and image source: thelocal.se