Voting is under way in Sweden in a high-stakes election that could lead to the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) entering government for the first time. It comes after an unusually heated and polarised campaign punctuated by personal attacks between leaders, accusations of misinformation and Maga-inspired ads. Polls suggest an extremely tight race, with one showing just 0.3 percentage points between the left and right blocs.
Polling stations across the country opened at 8am local time ( ). A record 3.6 million voters took part in early voting. Early indications of results will come at 8pm when the first exit polls are released, followed by a forecast from the broadcaster SVT an hour later.
The first preliminary vote count is expected between 10.30 and 11pm. Whatever the result, coalition talks are expected to take weeks if not months. The right-leaning bloc, made up of what are known as the Tidö parties, has been in power for four years.
It is formed of the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals with a supporting role for SD, Sweden’s second biggest party. The opposition left-leaning bloc is formed of Sweden’s biggest party, the Social Democrats, the Centre party, the Green party and the Left party. The rightwing coalition broke a long-standing taboo in 2022 by going into partnership with SD, which has neo-Nazi roots.
SD has attempted to make itself more palatable to the mainstream by toning down its overtly racist rhetoric, while arguing that immigration is responsible for Sweden’s crime problems. After four years in a supporting role for the Moderates-run coalition government, however, during which it has shifted much of the Swedish establishment to the right, SD’s approach to the election has been more brazen. If the right-leaning coalition win, the party has been promised a prominent role in the government, including key ministerial positions.
SD’s campaign slogan of “make Sweden Sweden again” was reminiscent of Donald Trump’s “make America great again”. Their controversial ads on buses – with messages including: “Do you miss Mogadishu? The repatriation grant will help you get home” – were taken down after drivers refused to work in vehicles displaying them.
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