Sweden’s social democrats win elections, but populists win
Vote counters count votes cast in a polling station at Vilans school in Nacka, near Stockholm, on September 11, 2022, during the general elections in Sweden. – – Sweden OUT (Photo by Maja SUSLIN / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo by MAJA SUSLIN/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)
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An exit poll predicted that Sweden’s ruling left-wing Social Democrats won the most votes in a parliamentary election Sunday, while a right-wing populist party had its best result to date.
The exit poll published by SVT has a margin of error and the final result will only be known when the votes have been counted.
There are eight parties running to win seats in the Riksdag with 349 seats. They belong to one of two large blocs, one with four left-wing parties and another with four conservative parties.
The exit poll predicted the left with a slight lead over the right, with 176 seats to 173.
If the exit poll is confirmed by the official results, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson could probably stay in power. Her Social Democratic Party was expected to win 29.3% of the vote.
The election boosted a populist anti-immigration party, the Sweden Democrats, which promised to crack down on shootings and other gang violence that has shaken a sense of security for many in Sweden.
The party won 17.5% in 2018 and was expected by the exit poll to get 20.5% support on Sunday. Although it would be its best ever result, the disappointment at party election headquarters was palpable as party members realized they were unlikely to form a new coalition government.
Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats, center, arrives at the party’s election night event in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Andersson took a narrow lead in the final polls, suggesting she could secure another four-year term in office, holding off a late surge in an anti-immigration party that has eroded the dominance of her Social Democrats. Photographer: Mikael Sjöberg/Blooimberg
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The populist party’s fortunes have risen following massive migration in recent years, particularly in 2015, and as crime has risen in segregated neighborhoods.
It has its roots in the white nationalist movement but years ago began expelling extremists. Despite the rebranding, voters found it unacceptable for a long time and other parties avoided it. But that has changed.
Mainstream parties have become increasingly opposed to migration and have promised tougher law and order in response to crime.
Andersson, a 55-year-old economist, enjoys high marks. She became Sweden’s first female prime minister less than a year ago and led Sweden’s historic bid to join NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
The poll predicted that the centre-right Moderate party was expected to win 18.8%. The party leads the conservative opposition bloc under its leader Ulf Kristersson. He ran on a promise that “Sweden needs change”.
During the campaign, Andersson expressed concern about the increasing popularity of the Sweden Democrats and characterized it as a far-right party that could undermine Sweden’s identity as a place of tolerance.
Tobias Andersson, a 26-year-old member of parliament for the Sweden Democrats seeking a second term, said his party was unfairly characterized as racist by opponents.
“I wasn’t even born when my party was founded, I don’t really care who founded it. I look at the values and policies that we support today,” he told the AP.
He said politicians who have called his party racist are now “pushing the same policy themselves.”
Most Swedes are still against the Sweden Democrats, and some tactically voted against any right-wing party to prevent that faction from having a chance at power.
Voting in Stockholm, Bjarne Frykholm, a 65-year-old computer specialist, would not say who he voted for other than to make it clear that he was against the Sweden Democrats.
“I don’t want them to have any power at all,” he said. “I think they scare me a lot.”