Elections & Democracy
Sweden election too close as far right loses ground
Sweden's general election remained too close to call early Monday after more than 90 percent of votes had been counted, with the left-wing opposition narrowly ahead and the far-right Sweden Democrats losing ground.
The four opposition parties led by Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson held a three-seat majority in the 349-seat parliament over Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing alliance, which includes the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
“For now, we are in the lead. And if that is confirmed, Sweden will have a new government,” Andersson told supporters.
Her Social Democrats, Sweden's largest party, had 28 percent of the counted vote. AFP reported that the result would be the party's worst score in more than a century if confirmed. Andersson was Sweden's first woman prime minister in 2021-2022.
Kristersson's Moderate Party had 19.9 percent of the counted vote. He said that if the result stood, he would respect Andersson's attempt to form a government with the three other parties on the left, but argued that divisions among them could make a governing programme difficult.
“Which government is going to govern Sweden in the coming years is still an open question,” Kristersson told supporters.
The Sweden Democrats had 17.6 percent of the vote, down from 20.6 percent in 2022. Party leader Jimmie Akesson said the full result was not yet known, but that it was clear the party had lost a few percentage points compared with four years earlier.
The final outcome may not be clear for several days. Municipal election authorities are due to start counting votes on Wednesday, September 16, that had not reached their destination on election night. All votes are also automatically recounted by regional county administrative boards, a process that usually takes a week.
Kristersson has headed a minority coalition backed by the Sweden Democrats for four years, giving the party influence over policy in exchange for support in parliament. He had promised the Sweden Democrats key cabinet posts if the right-wing bloc won.
The campaign focused heavily on healthcare and helping households cope with rising costs.
Update
More than 90 percent of votes had been counted.
The four opposition parties led by Magdalena Andersson held a three-seat majority, up from the previously reported one-seat lead.
The Sweden Democrats were reported at 17.6 percent, down from 20.6 percent in 2022.
Jimmie Akesson said it was clear the Sweden Democrats had lost a few percentage points compared with four years earlier.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 September 2026 at 03:12:45 UTC.
Update
With almost 90 percent of votes counted, Magdalena Andersson's four-party opposition bloc held a one-seat lead in the 349-seat parliament over Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing alliance.
The Sweden Democrats had 17.6 percent of the counted vote, down from 20.5 percent in 2022.
The Social Democrats had 28 percent of the vote and were described as heading for their worst score in more than a century.
Kristersson's Moderate Party had 19.9 percent of the counted vote.
Municipal authorities are due to start counting late-arriving votes on Wednesday, and all votes are automatically recounted by regional county administrative boards.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 23:24:38 UTC.
Update
The general election was too close to call and showed the left-wing opposition with a narrow lead.
Ulf Kristersson told supporters that Sweden still did not have a final result and that the next government remained an open question.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 23:03:18 UTC.
Update
Sweden's outgoing prime minister said the question of the next government remained open.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 22:51:41 UTC.
Update
Sweden votes Sunday in a general election after the race narrowed to a dead heat in the final campaign days.
The election could either bring the far-right Sweden Democrats into government for the first time or return the left-wing opposition to power.
Polling stations are due to open at 8:00 a.m. local time and close at 8:00 p.m., when exit polls will be published.
Around eight million people are eligible to vote and around half have voted in advance.
Magdalena Andersson and Jimmie Akesson made final eve-of-vote campaign appeals in Stockholm.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 September 2026 at 01:13:12 UTC.
Update
An Ipsos poll put the opposition on 49.3% and Kristersson's side on 49.0%, making the race practically dead even.
Voters quoted by AFP highlighted organised crime, household bills, welfare and concern about the Sweden Democrats entering government.
Kristersson downplayed the significance of offering cabinet posts to the Sweden Democrats, saying there was nothing dramatic about it.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 15:14:15 UTC.
Update
An Indikator poll published Friday put the opposition left-wing bloc on 50.8% and the right-wing bloc on 47.6%.
Sweden's party leaders campaigned Friday in the final stretch before Sunday's general election.
Magdalena Andersson warned in a debate that Sweden Democrats could gain influence over the defence ministry after allegations of pro-Russian propaganda sharing by a party-linked parliamentary civil servant.
The campaign's final debates focused on housing, education scores, jobs, climate and security.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 14:13:34 UTC.
Update
Ulf Kristersson said giving cabinet posts to the Sweden Democrats would not change Sweden's support for Ukraine.
Kristersson said his government and the Sweden Democrats were aligned on major topics including Russia, Ukraine and NATO, while acknowledging some foreign policy differences.
Kristersson said he would not negotiate specific ministerial posts before the election result.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 12:44:14 UTC.
Update
Ulf Kristersson told AFP he hopes to secure a second term to “make Sweden great again”.
Kristersson said Sweden had gone from being known for shootings to being known for successful entrepreneurs such as Spotify's creator.
The comments were made on the sidelines of a campaign rally in Stockholm.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 12:12:02 UTC.
Update
Party leaders campaigned on Friday in the final stretch before Sunday's general election.
A Friday Indikator poll put the opposition left-wing bloc at 50.8 percent and the right-wing bloc at 47.6 percent.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has promised cabinet posts to the Sweden Democrats if re-elected, and Jimmie Akesson has demanded 12 to 14 portfolios.
The campaign's final debates included housing, education scores, jobs, climate and security.
A Sweden Democrat parliamentary civil servant was reported by Expo to have shared pro-Russian propaganda for years.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 12:05:11 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The final election result had not been established.
The remaining vote count and automatic recount could affect the final parliamentary balance.
It was not yet clear which parties would be able to form a government.
Source
AFP news report published on .