Sweden's centre-left opposition bloc looks set to take power after a high-stakes general election, according to exit polls, in what would be a strong rejection of the current centre-right coalition.
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Key facts
- Initial projections put the centre-left opposition bloc at 51.3%.
- The rightwing government parties are projected at 46.8%.
- The result is worse than expected for the far-right Sweden Democrats.
- A new government would likely be led by the Social Democrats, supported by the Left party, the Centre party and the Green party.
Sweden’s centre-left bloc looks set to take power after a high-stakes general election, according to exit polls reported by the Guardian. If the results hold, they would deliver a new left-leaning government and mark a strong rejection of the current centre-right coalition.
Initial projections put the opposition bloc at 51.3%, with 46.8% for the rightwing government parties. The Guardian reported that the outcome represented a result worse than expected for the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
Should the projections be confirmed, the new government would likely be led by the Social Democrats, supported by the Left party (Vänsterpartiet), the Centre party and the Green party.
The prospect of the Sweden Democrats entering government had attracted significant international attention ahead of the vote, according to the Guardian’s Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant. That attention was heightened by its timing, coming just days after the Alternative für Deutschland won regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany.
The Guardian noted that a centre-left win would result in a brand new left-leaning Swedish government, reversing the direction of the outgoing centre-right administration.
As of the reporting, the figures cited were based on exit polls and initial projections rather than final counted results.
Why it matters
Sweden's election was closely watched across Europe as a test of the far right's momentum, particularly following recent gains by the Alternative für Deutschland in Germany. A centre-left victory would signal a rejection of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats' bid to enter government and reshape the country's political direction.
Frequently asked questions
Who is projected to win the Swedish election?
According to exit polls reported by the Guardian, the centre-left opposition bloc is projected to win with 51.3%, compared with 46.8% for the rightwing government parties.
Which parties would form the new government?
A new left-leaning government would likely be led by the Social Democrats, supported by the Left party (Vänsterpartiet), the Centre party and the Green party.
How did the far-right Sweden Democrats perform?
The Guardian reported that the result was worse than expected for the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, whose prospect of entering government had drawn significant international attention.
Timeline
- Sweden election: exit polls project centre-left government and bad night for the far-right – live
The Guardian World: Initial projections put centre-left opposition bloc at 51.3%, with 46.8% for rightwing parties; result worse than expected for far right Sweden Democrats Swedish election – full report If you’re looking just for a single story to quickly catch up on the story of tonight, let’s cr
- Swedish election: centre-left bloc looks set to take power, exit polls show
The Guardian World: Result would deliver a new left-leaning government and be a strong rejection of current centre-right coalition Sweden general election – live updates Sweden’s centre-left bloc looks set to take power after a high-stakes election, according to exit polls. If the results hold, it i
- Sweden general election: centre-left opposition bloc set to win, exit polls project – Europe live
The Guardian World: Initial projections put opposition block at 51.3%, with 46.8% for the rightwing government parties; result worse than expected for far right Sweden Democrats If you’re looking just for a single story to quickly catch up on the story of tonight, let’s cross to our Nordic correspon