Sweden's Left Holds 3-Seat Lead as Far-Right Sweden Democrats Fall to 17.6%
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Sep 14
Sweden's Left Holds 3-Seat Lead as Far-Right Sweden Democrats Fall to 17.6%
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Sep 14
Summary
With 95% of votes counted, Sweden's left-wing opposition led by three seats in the 349-member parliament, but ballots still due by Wednesday left the result too close to call.
Magdalena Andersson and outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson both began exploring coalition options, yet each bloc lacks an easy majority because potential partners have drawn conflicting red lines.
Kristersson is expected to court the Center Party, but analysts say its opposition to working with the far right makes that route unlikely, while the left also faces deep internal splits.
The Sweden Democrats dropped to 17.6% from more than 20% in 2022, their first electoral setback since entering parliament in 2010 as tougher migration and crime policies spread across mainstream parties.
A parliamentary vote on a new prime minister cannot come before Sept. 29, and analysts warn Sweden could face weeks of negotiations or even a snap election if the stalemate persists.