Parlamentswahl: Wahlkrimi ohne Ende: Wer kann Schweden regieren?

Sweden has held an election, but a government remains elusive. According to the electoral authority, the Social Democrats led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson emerged as the strongest force following the count of 93% of votes. However, it remains unclear whether Andersson's potential center-left alliance with three other parties can secure a parliamentary majority.

The potential government partners of the Social Democrats also disagree on crucial points. Therefore, Ulf Kristersson, the conservative Prime Minister, still has a chance to retain power through a coalition, potentially with the right-wing populist Swedish Democrats. At early morning, the electoral authority reported the Andersson camp holding a slim majority of 176 out of 349 parliamentary seats.

Kristersson's Conservatives, his two previous coalition partners, and the right-wing populists together secured 173 mandates. A clear election winner may only be determined on Wednesday, once all votes from Swedish citizens abroad and late postal votes have been counted. Following the count of 93% of votes, Andersson's Social Democrats received 28.1% of the votes - a decrease from 2022 (30.33%).

Kristersson's Conservatives followed with 19.9% (2022: 19.10%). If the outcome is confirmed, they would have overtaken the right-wing populists as the second-largest force in the parliament after 2022. A bitter night for the Swedish Democrats - according to the numbers, they have lost percentage points compared to the 2022 election (2022: 20.54%).

"We have obviously lost some percentage points compared to the result from four years ago," said their leader Jimmie Åkesson. "Nevertheless, I still believe we have been the winners in this election campaign, because many people in our country now feel comfortable enough to openly declare they are Swedish Democrats." The Swedish Democrats saw a decline from 20.54% to 17.6% in the latest election.

"We obviously lost some percentage points compared to the result from four years ago," said their leader Jimmie Åkesson. "Nevertheless, I still believe we have been the winners in this election campaign, because many people in our country now feel comfortable enough to openly declare they are Swedish Democrats."