Sweden’s centre-left opposition holds narrow lead in preliminary election results

Stockholm, Sweden. Sweden’s centre-left opposition appeared set to form the next government after preliminary results from Sunday’s election gave it a narrow three-seat lead over the ruling right-wing parties.

Preliminary seat projections

Left-leaning parties led by Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson were projected to win 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament, while Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing bloc was projected to win 173 seats, according to the election authority.

The blocs were separated by 0.45% of votes on Monday morning.

“If this result remains valid, Sweden will get a new government,” Andersson told supporters after the preliminary results were published on Sunday night.

Votes still outstanding

Party leaders remained cautious about claiming victory or accepting defeat, with 353 election districts still to be counted. Overseas votes were not expected to be tallied until Wednesday.

In 2022, exit polls initially indicated a narrow centre-left victory, but the result changed. Kristersson gave no indication of conceding when he spoke after Sunday’s election.

Potential government formation

A victory for the opposition would halt a rightward shift over the previous four years that transformed Sweden from one of Europe’s most welcoming countries for immigrants into one with among the toughest asylum regimes.

The far-right Sweden Democrats, which had hoped to enter government for the first time if the ruling bloc won, was projected to lose 11 seats.

If the centre-left result is confirmed, negotiations to form a government could take time. While Andersson would become prime minister, it remains unclear which other parties would join her government. The Centre Party has refused to share power with the Left Party, which says it must be included in any coalition.