Sweden’s centre-left opposition has taken a one-seat lead in the country’s parliamentary election, according to a preliminary projection from the national election authority.
The bloc led by Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson was projected to win 175 seats in the 349-member Riksdag, while Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s governing right-wing alliance was expected to secure 174.
The calculation was based on votes reported from 4,853 of Sweden’s 6,312 electoral districts. Counting continued late on Sunday, and officials warned that the final outcome could take several days because ballots cast abroad remained outstanding.
The result therefore remains provisional. Neither Andersson nor Kristersson can yet be described as the confirmed winner, and a one-seat difference leaves the allocation vulnerable to changes as the remaining votes are counted.
The election will determine whether Andersson can return as prime minister after four years in opposition or Kristersson can secure a second term with a coalition that could bring the Sweden Democrats into government for the first time.
Kristersson’s administration has governed since 2022 with parliamentary support from the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. Before the election, he said he was prepared to give the party Cabinet positions if the right-wing alliance retained power.
The Sweden Democrats were established in the 1980s by figures linked to far-right and extremist movements. The party says it has expelled openly racist members and distanced itself from its earlier roots under leader Jimmie Åkesson.
The election campaign centred heavily on immigration, crime, civil liberties and whether the Sweden Democrats should receive formal government responsibilities. Kristersson’s supporters credit his administration with reducing immigration and making progress against gang violence, while opponents accuse the government of weakening Sweden’s liberal traditions.
Although the opposing blocs differ sharply on domestic policy, Sweden’s support for Ukraine and its position as NATO’s newest member are unlikely to change substantially under either prospective government.
A confirmed centre-left victory would return Andersson to power but could still require difficult negotiations among four parties with differing positions. A reversal in the remaining count could instead give Kristersson another term and place the Sweden Democrats closer to national executive power.
