Sweden’s prime minister Magdalena Andersson, a Social Democrat, announced on Wednesday that she would present her resignation the following day, after confirming the narrow defeat of the center-left bloc against the right-wing opposition in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday.
With 99.7 percent of constituencies counted, the right bloc won the assembly by a margin of 176 to 173 seats, according to the Electoral Authority, which includes external votes and those mailed in but not yet received on time.
The Social Democrats, the party that has led the country for most of the past century, secured 30.4 percent of the vote, a two-point increase from the 2018 result.
The far-right Sweden Democrats led the opposition with 20.6 percent, rising by three points, while the conservatives, led by Ulf Kristersson, stood at 19.1 percent. Andersson indicated that although nearly all votes had been counted, the outcome was clear enough to declare the result, signaling the start of a challenging legislative period given the slim margin.
The prime minister warned that the forthcoming legislature would be difficult and complex due to the small gap between blocs and expressed concern about the rise of the Sweden Democrats.
The Social Democrat leader emphasized that the party delivered a solid election showing and remained the largest faction in the country. However, the final tally placed the opposition bloc at 49 percent against 49.6 percent for the center-left, with the seat gap narrowing to within a few ballots depending on late-counted ballots that were still being processed on Monday.
Over 40,000 votes apart
Final results suggested a difference slightly above 44,500 votes between the blocs on Monday, a figure that left many observers cautious as they awaited the last counts. In the meantime, four parties of the right-wing bloc held meetings while Swedish media began speculating on possible ministerial portfolios.
The tradition of Wednesday prayers has historically had limited impact on the final outcome, with rare exceptions such as 1979 when a similar prayer cycle coincided with a late swing in favor of the right by about 8,500 votes on election night.
The Sweden Democrats emerged as the election’s biggest winner, expanding their influence as the leading force on the right and gaining leverage in shaping government negotiations in the near term. Their ascent marks a departure from the long-standing dynamic in which the conservatives held leadership within the bloc, and the party has signaled a readiness to participate in government formation, potentially broadening its role beyond its current parliamentary position.
Historically controversial for its neo-Nazi roots in the 1980s, the Sweden Democrats have played a central role in redefining the right-leaning coalition and pushing for changes that align with their platform. Their rise has conditioned the strategy of other parties, including the centrists, liberals, conservatives, and Christian Democrats, as they reassess alliances and governing options after the election.
As discussions unfold, there is growing speculation about a possible minority government led by Kristersson, supported from outside by other bloc members. The Sweden Democrats have positioned themselves as a central player in any potential arrangement and signaled an interest in participating in governance should negotiations move forward. This dynamic suggests a period of active, high-stakes talks as parties maneuver to form a stable administration in the near term, as reported by analysts and the public alike.