Sweden may wait long for new gov't as opposition has narrow lead in tight election

Stockholm — Preliminary election results on Monday indicated a narrow and uncertain advantage for Sweden's left-leaning opposition, according to the Swedish Election Authority. With nearly 95 percent of districts counted, the opposition parties were projected to secure 176 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag parliament. The conservative-led government, comprised of four parties, held onto 173 seats.

However, the final outcome may not be determined until early votes, including those from overseas, are tallied on Wednesday. This uncertainty extends to the question of who will lead NATO's newest member for the next four years, as Sweden, with a population of approximately 10.6 million, is also a member of the European Union. Negotiations will need to navigate through the rigid stances of former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's center-left Social Democrats, who were poised to emerge as the leading single party, albeit with a slight decline in support.