Sweden elections 2018 – when were they, what was the result and who are the parties?
The Sweden Democrats have made sizeable gains at the expense of the two main parties in the country's General Election
THE far-right Sweden Democrats party have made huge gains in the country's general election and could hold the balance of power in its parliament.
With nearly all the votes counted, the governing center-left bloc has a razor-thin edge over the center-right opposition Alliance, with roughly 40 percent each.
When was the general election in Sweden?
The polls opened in Sweden on the morning of September 9, 2018, with the regional and municipal elections taking place at the same time.
Anti-immigrant party Sweden Democrats (SD) were expected to once again hold the balance of power, if opinion polls are to be believed.
After the Social Democrats, the Moderate Party, under Ulf Kristersson, is the second largest in the Riksdag with 84 seats.
Jimmie Akesson, head of the populist Sweden Democrats is expected to once again be the kingmaker, holding the balance of power with 49 seats and has seen its support grow in the opinion polls.
But because of its policies about reducing mass immigration it is opposed by every other party in the Parliament who have said they will not co-operate with the SDs.
What was the result?
Just overseas and postal votes are still being counted and that could change the picture.
The two main political blocs are neck-and-neck while the SDs have made big gains on the previous election.
Currently the centre-left coalition, dominated by the Social Democrats is slightly in front but both have around 40 percent of the vote.
The SDs have seen their share of the vote jump from 12.9 percent to 17.6 percent, so far.
As the two main groups look unlikely to be able to form a government the country looks set for a protracted round of negotiations in order to try to form a working government.
While the SD leader, Jimmie Akesson, has said he will work with all other parties, everyone else has refused to work with the populist, anti-immigration party.
The final result will not be known until Wednesday, September 12, 2018 when overseas votes will be included but so far the standing looks like this:
- Social Democrats 28.4 percent
- Moderates 19.8
- Sweden Democrats 17.6
- The Centre Party 8.6
- The Left 7.9
- The Christian Democrats 6.4
- Liberals 5.5
- Green Party 4.3
Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson campaigns ahead of the Swedish general election in Stockholm
Who are the parties?
Social Democrats - left-wing party aligned with the trade union movement, the country's oldest political party led by Stefan Lofven
Moderates - a liberal-conservative party with Ulf Kristersson as chairman.
Sweden Democrats - a far-right, anti-immigration party and wants to leave the European Union, led by Jimmie Akesson.
The Centre Party - a liberal, agrarian party under Annie Loof.
The Left - far-left, socialist party led by Jonas Sjostedt.
The Christian Democrats - centre-right party led by Ebba Busch Thor.
Liberals - historically it has kept to the centre ground, politically, but has veered to the right in recent years, led by Jan Bjorklund.
Green Party - left-leaning environmental party led by Gustav Fridolin and Isabella Lovin.