Sweden headed to the polls in a tightly contested general election that could either bring the far right into government for the first time or return the centre-left to power. Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday, and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats was among the first to vote at a school in Nacka, a suburb south of Stockholm, accompanied by her husband.
Andersson, 59, who became Sweden’s first female prime minister in 2021, urged voters to choose the country’s direction. She framed the choice as between a government dominated by the Sweden Democrats — a far-right party that would be entering government for the first time — and a Social Democratic-led administration focused on cooperation and strengthening welfare. Her campaign has emphasized protecting and expanding the welfare state and helping households manage rising living costs.
On the other side, incumbent Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is campaigning for a second four-year term. He leads a three-party centre-right coalition that has governed since 2022 with parliamentary backing from the Sweden Democrats, an anti-immigration party that has shifted toward mainstream politics in recent years. If the right-leaning alliance wins, the Sweden Democrats are expected to secure ministerial positions in the next cabinet. Kristersson has pledged to build on his government’s recent tougher stance on organised crime and immigration, promising measures aimed at improving everyday life for ordinary Swedes.
The Sweden Democrats, a party with origins tied to neo-Nazi movements, won 20.5% of the vote in 2022 and are now the largest party on the right. In April, Kristersson’s Moderates declared they would permit the Sweden Democrats to take part in government should the right obtain a majority — with Kristersson prepared to remain prime minister even if the Sweden Democrats became the larger partner.
Throughout the campaign, opinion polls generally favored Andersson’s left-wing bloc, which comprises four parties, giving them a comfortable margin over Kristersson’s four-party right-wing alliance. However, that lead shrank considerably in the campaign’s final days, tightening what already promised to be a nail-biting outcome.
Sweden’s election day procedure set polling stations to close at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT), when exit polls were expected to be released. More dependable vote counts typically follow several hours later. About eight million eligible voters—out of a population of roughly 10.6 million—could cast ballots. Sweden traditionally records high turnout rates, frequently exceeding 80%, and about half of this year’s electorate had already voted in advance.
The stakes are significant. A victory for Andersson would steer Sweden back toward centre-left governance with renewed emphasis on social safety nets and policies addressing cost-of-living pressures. Conversely, a win for Kristersson’s alliance would likely cement the Sweden Democrats’ role in government, bringing the far-right into formal power and potentially reshaping immigration and law-and-order policies.
Campaign messaging highlighted contrasting priorities. Andersson focused on welfare expansion and economic relief for struggling families, tying such measures to broader social cohesion. Kristersson and his coalition pointed to the government’s record on security and immigration restrictions, arguing that those steps have improved conditions and laid the groundwork for further progress. The Sweden Democrats emphasized stricter immigration controls and tougher measures against crime, continuing messages that have broadened their appeal among voters concerned about social order and public services.
This election comes amid broader European debates over the rise of populist and far-right parties. For Sweden, a country long perceived as politically stable and consensus-driven, the possibility of a government including the Sweden Democrats would mark a historic shift. Even with their mainstreaming, the party’s roots and policy positions remain controversial both domestically and across Europe.
As returns began to trickle in after voting concluded, observers and political commentators prepared for a close finish. The result will determine not only who governs Sweden for the next four years but also how the nation navigates issues from immigration and crime to welfare and economic pressures. With the electorate sharply divided and turnout reliably high, the final outcome promised to be a defining moment in Swedish politics.
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