Sweden's left and right political blocs appeared headed for a deadlock after Sunday's general election, with the left-wing parties holding a lead of just one seat and the final result possibly taking days to confirm.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- Sweden's left and right blocs appeared to be heading for deadlock on Sunday night.
- Left-wing parties held a lead of just one seat with most votes counted.
- Early exit polls had suggested a new left-leaning government.
- The race was described as too close to call and may take days to become clear.
Sweden’s general election looked to be heading for a deadlock on Sunday night, with the country’s left and right political blocs running neck and neck as the majority of votes were counted, according to the Guardian.
Earlier in the evening, exit polls had suggested that Sweden was on course for a brand new left-leaning government. But as counting progressed, later forecasts painted a far tighter picture, showing what the Guardian described as an incredibly close race.
By late Sunday, the left-wing parties held a lead of just a single seat, or one mandate, over the right, according to the Guardian’s reporting. The margin was so narrow that the outcome was too close to call.
The Guardian reported that the final result may take days to become clear, underscoring how finely balanced the contest had become despite the earlier exit poll projections favouring the left.
The shift from an apparent left-leaning victory in early exit polls to a razor-thin, uncertain result illustrates the volatility of the count and the difficulty of declaring a winner in such a closely divided electorate.
Why it matters
A one-seat margin means Sweden could face days of uncertainty before knowing who will form its next government. The outcome will determine the direction of one of Europe's most closely watched democracies at a time of shifting political fortunes across the continent.
Frequently asked questions
Who is leading Sweden's election?
According to the Guardian, Sweden's left-wing parties held a lead of just a single seat, or one mandate, over the right with most of the votes counted, though the race was too close to call.
When will the final result be known?
The Guardian reported that the race was too close to call and may take days to become clear.
What did the early exit polls suggest?
Early exit polls suggested that Sweden was on course for a brand new left-leaning government, but later forecasts showed a much closer race.
Timeline
- Swedish election: left-wing parties lead by just one mandate with most votes counted
The Guardian World: Race too close to call and may take days to become clear despite early exit polls suggesting left bloc win Sweden general election – live updates Sweden’s left-wing parties held a lead of just one mandate on Sunday night with most of the votes counted. Earlier in the night, exit
- Swedish election: centre-left parties lead by just a single seat with most votes counted
The Guardian World: Race too close to call and may take days to become clear despite early exit polls suggesting left bloc win Sweden general election – live updates Sweden’s left-wing parties held a lead of just a single seat on Sunday night with most of the votes counted. Earlier in the night, exi
- Swedish election: left and right parties appear to be heading for deadlock
The Guardian World: Though early exit polls suggested a new left-leaning government, later forecasts now suggest an incredibly close race Sweden general election – live updates Sweden’s left and right parties appeared to be heading for deadlock on Sunday night with the majority of the votes counted.