Sweden's left bloc wins power after divisive election

Sweden's Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson has reclaimed her position as prime minister following a tight general election focused primarily on migration matters. The center-left opposition parties secured 176 seats in parliament, compared to the ruling right-wing bloc's 173 seats, according to the country's election authority. Ms. Andersson's return to power after four years in opposition marks a significant shift from the previous administration.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, representing the right-wing Moderates Party, has yet to comment on the final outcome. Under Kristersson's leadership, the government had been supported by the Sweden Democrats, a hard-right party. The outgoing government's immigration policies, which included incentives and penalties to encourage migrants to adhere to Swedish cultural norms or leave the country, had drawn support from those critical of the current administration's approach.

During the campaign, Kristersson offered an invitation to the far-right party to share ministerial positions if he emerged victorious.

The governing government trailed in opinion polls throughout its four-year tenure but managed to narrow the gap in the final weeks of campaigning. Meanwhile, Ms. Andersson and her Social Democrats experienced a decline in support. The Social Democratic bloc remains divided on various issues, such as migration, a tax on billionaires, and the construction of new nuclear reactors.

Furthermore, her proposed budget plans may face challenges in gaining support, as the Left Party (Sweden's former Communist Party) and the Centre Party, which advocates for free-market policies, hold differing views on several economic matters.