Without a clear winner, Sweden in limbo after voting | Local news
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden awoke Monday to the prospect of weeks of political uncertainty after none of the country’s blocs secured a clear governing majority in an election, even as it became clear that a populist anti-immigration party was rising to become the country’s second-largest political force .
With more than 94% of the vote counted, the center-right opposition, which includes the populist Sweden Democrats, had a razor-sharp edge over the ruling Social Democrats and their allies in the center-left bloc.
The left bloc is led by Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who has not resigned.
The result was so close that the electoral authority said a definitive result would not be known until Wednesday, when the uncounted votes, including those cast abroad, have been counted.
With eight parties competing for seats, nothing will secure a majority of 175 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag, meaning laws can only be passed with different parties working together
– It is very close. Things can change, but I doubt it, says Zeth Isaksson, sociologist at Stockholm University. “As it is now, the right side is more likely to win.”
The votes abroad are traditionally conservative, which means that the still uncounted votes are unlikely to swing back the momentum to the left, according to Isaksson.
The biggest winner of the night was undoubtedly the populist anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who had a strong showing of almost 21%, their best ever result. The party won on promises to crack down on shootings and other gang violence that has shaken the sense of security for many in Sweden.
The party has its roots in the white nationalist movement but several 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, and its performance in this election shows how far it has come to gain acceptance.
The Social Democrats, who have been in power in Sweden since 2014, remain the largest party and even just over four years ago received 30.5% of the vote. Andersson said that it was obvious that the social democratic movement, which is based on ideals of creating an equal society and a strong welfare state, is still strong in Sweden.
The Sweden Democrats want to be part of a government, but that will hardly happen because there are parties in the middle block that are against it, Isaksson said.
Still, the party will have “very strong leverage” and push some of its issues, such as tightening immigration laws. According to Isaksson, the Sweden Democrats can end up outside a government but as supporters of it.
Isaksson also ruled out a government coalition combining the center-right Moderates, who have led the center-right bloc, and the Social Democrats.
The moderates fell short of becoming Sweden’s third largest party and won 19%, based on the incomplete vote tally. However, party leader Ulf Kristersson emerged on Monday as the most likely candidate to become the next prime minister. He told his supporters on election night that he is ready to try to create a stable and effective government.
Sweden will likely face a protracted process to form a government, just like after the 2018 election.
Andersson, a 55-year-old economist, 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.
___ Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
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