The opposition is led by Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson, whose party has secured around 28 percent of the vote and appears headed for its worst result in more than a century. Andersson said she would be ready to form a new government if the opposition bloc’s lead is confirmed.
Kristersson’s Moderate Party has received around 19.9 percent of the counted vote. He said he would respect Andersson’s attempt to form a government if the result holds.
The far-right Sweden Democrats have also lost support, with their vote share falling from 20.6 percent in the 2022 election to around 17.6 percent in the initial results. Party leader Jimmie Akesson, however, said the result showed that the party had become more accepted in Swedish politics.
Since 2022, Kristersson’s government has relied on parliamentary support from the Sweden Democrats, giving the party significant influence over government policy.
A Social Democrat led coalition would end four years of right-wing government under Kristersson, who came to power amid growing concerns over gang shootings and organised crime. However, a change in government would not necessarily mean a reversal of Sweden’s tougher migration policies, as the Social Democrats have said restrictions on migration would remain under an Andersson-led government.
The final result could take several days, as late-arriving votes are due to be counted from Wednesday, while all ballots will be automatically recounted by regional authorities.
