The far-right Sweden Democrats saw their voter support fall for the first time since entering parliament 16 years ago, dropping from Sweden's second-largest party to its third, according to the Guardian. Votes were still being counted and the shape of the next government remained unclear.
Key facts
- The Sweden Democrats lost voter support for the first time since first entering parliament 16 years ago, according to the Guardian.
- The party fell from being Sweden's second-largest party to its third.
- The Sweden Democrats have influenced the Swedish government over the past four years, the Guardian reports.
- Votes were still being counted, and the composition of the next government remained unclear.
- The election followed a German state election a week earlier in which a party officially classed as 'extremist' neared power, the Guardian reports.
Sweden held a general election on Sunday that was closely watched across Europe as a test of whether the far right would formally enter government, according to the Guardian. The vote followed a state election in Germany a week earlier in which a party officially classified as ‘extremist’ was placed close to power for the first time since the Nazi era, the outlet reported.
The Sweden Democrats, which the Guardian describes as a far-right party with neo-Nazi roots, have influenced the Swedish government over the past four years. A central question ahead of the vote was whether voters would give the party a formal role in government or opt for a change of direction, the Guardian reported.
With votes still being counted on Wednesday, the Guardian reported that the Sweden Democrats had suffered a setback, describing it as the party’s first loss of voter support since it first entered parliament 16 years ago. As a result, the party fell from being the country’s second-largest to its third, according to the outlet.
The Guardian, in an analysis piece, framed the result as a possible lesson for European leaders as Germany’s far-right AfD seeks further gains, and questioned whether centrist politicians were responding to the outcome. The article reflects the outlet’s characterisation of the Sweden Democrats’ agenda as hardline.
The full composition of Sweden’s next government remained unclear while counting continued, the Guardian reported. It was not yet known how the result would affect coalition arrangements.
Why it matters
A drop in support for the Sweden Democrats would be a notable reversal for a European far-right party that had been gaining ground, and it comes amid heightened attention to far-right gains in Germany. With counting ongoing, the practical impact on the next government is not yet clear.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Sweden Democrats win the election?
No. According to the Guardian, the far-right Sweden Democrats suffered a setback, losing voter support for the first time in 16 years and slipping from the second-biggest party to the third.
How long have the Sweden Democrats been in parliament?
The Sweden Democrats entered the Swedish parliament for the first time 16 years ago, and this election marked their first loss of voter support since then, the Guardian reports.
Why is Europe watching Sweden's election?
The vote came a week after a far-right party officially classed as 'extremist' neared power in a German state for the first time since the Nazi era, prompting concern across Europe about the far right's rising influence.