Voting is under way in Sweden in a high-stakes election that could bring the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) into government for the first time.
The campaign has been unusually heated and polarised, marked by personal attacks between leaders, accusations of misinformation, and ads inspired by Maga. Polls suggest an extremely tight race, with one showing just a 0.3 percentage point gap between the left and right blocs.
Polling stations across the country opened at 8am local time (7am UK 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 consists of the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals, with SD, Sweden’s second biggest party, in a supporting role.
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.
View image in fullscreenThe leader of the Social Democrats, Magdalena Andersson, casts her vote in Stockholm. Photograph: Stefan Jerrevang/EPA
The rightwing coalition broke a longstanding taboo in 2022 by going into partnership with SD, which has neo-Nazi roots.
SD has tried to make itself more acceptable 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, 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 wins, 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”. Its 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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The party leader, Jimmie Åkesson, was accused of sexism after asking the Social Democrats’ leader, Magdalena Andersson, why she was so angry during a TV debate.
Another leading SD figure, Gustav Gellerbrant, came under national scrutiny after an investigation by the publication Expo connected his partner to Russian state actors and the spread of Russian propaganda. His partner, who is Russian, works as a civil servant for SD in parliament. Gellerbrant said in response that it was “isolated information” intended to raise suspicion about her Russian origins and has since gone on leave.
2:51’I hope for a decent period in politics’: views of voters as Sweden goes to the polls – video
Andersson, who voted on Sunday morning in the Stockholm suburb of Nacka, said the campaign had been “a tale of two sides”.
“There have been a lot of lies and bickering, but at the same time there are so many sensible people out there across the country,” she told SVT. “The focus is on winning and setting a new direction for Sweden.”
Abba’s Benny Andersson showed his support for the Social Democrats’ leader by performing a reworked version of Mamma Mia to supporters at the party’s headquarters, replacing the words “Mamma Mia” with “Magdalena”.
0:31Abba’s Benny Andersson remixes ‘Mamma Mia’ hit at Social Democrat election day rally – video
The prime minister and leader of the MoIn the final days of the campaign, the prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, has focused heavily on the sentence discounts given to criminals convicted of various offences. He accused Andersson of failing to stand up for female rape victims. In response, she accused him of using men’s violence against women as a political weapon. Voters say the most important election issues are healthcare, law and order, immigration and the economy. But much of the election debate has centred on personal finance, said Radio Sweden’s senior political correspondent, Fredrik Furtenbach. “The parties have tried to outdo each other with promises of more money. It has been a kind of auction.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the Swedish election where the far right hopes to enter government
What is happening in Sweden right now
Sweden is holding a general election People are voting to choose new members of parliament The big story is that a farright party might join the government for the first time
Which party is the far right in Sweden
The party is called the Sweden Democrats They used to be a fringe group with neoNazi roots Now they are the second or third largest party in the country
Why is it a big deal if they enter government
Sweden has a long history of welcoming immigrants and being a liberal open society The Sweden Democrats are antiimmigration and want strict laws If they join the government it would be a major shift in Swedish politics
What does entering government mean exactly
It means the party would get cabinet seats They would control ministries like immigration or justice They would help write the national budget and make laws
Can the Sweden Democrats actually win and lead the government
No they cannot win a majority on their own They need other parties to work with them The mainstream rightwing parties might agree to let them in
Who are the mainstream rightwing parties
They are the Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats They used to say no to the Sweden Democrats Now they are open to working together
What do the Sweden Democrats want to change
They want to stop almost all new immigration They want to deport immigrants who commit crimes They also want to cut foreign aid and leave the European Union
Why do people vote for the Sweden Democrats
Many voters are worried about crime and gang violence They think immigration has been too fast They feel other parties ignored their concerns for years
What is the cordon sanitaire and does it still exist
It means a wall of silence around a controversial party In Sweden other parties used to refuse to talk to the Sweden Democrats That wall is now broken
How does voting work in Sweden
Voters pick a party not a person Parties get seats based on the percentage of votes they win You need at least 4 of the vote to get into parliament
When will we know the result
A preliminary result comes on election night The final result takes a few days because of early
