Swedish political leaders entered negotiations to form a new government following a national election that left two major voting blocs in a narrow contest. With 95% of the votes counted as of Monday, a four-party left-wing opposition bloc held a three-seat lead in the 349-seat parliament over the right-wing alliance of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
The results followed an election that saw a decrease in support for the Sweden Democrats. The party received 17.6% of the vote, down from more than 20% in the 2022 election. This marked the first time the party lost ground since it first entered parliament, moving from the country’s second-largest party to third place behind the Social Democrats and the Moderates.
Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats, and Prime Minister Kristersson of the Moderates both stated they intend to explore coalition options. However, both leaders face internal divisions within their respective blocs. The left-wing bloc includes the Center Party, which has stated it will not support a government that includes the Left Party, while the Left Party has stated it will only support a government if it is a member. Meanwhile, the Center Party is reportedly opposed to an alliance involving the Sweden Democrats.
The scale of the political uncertainty is highlighted by the 37 days it took to form a government in 2022 and the 134 days required in 2018. If the current blocs cannot reach an agreement by abandoning their stated "red lines," the country faces the possibility of a snap election, which would require voters to return to the polls for a new round of balloting. This process creates a period of administrative transition where major new policy initiatives are typically paused.
The outcome also signals a shift in the influence of the Sweden Democrats, who previously provided outside support for Kristersson’s minority government in exchange for influence over migration and crime policy. Because other mainstream parties have adopted more restrictive migration stances, analysts suggest the Sweden Democrats' specific leverage may be changing. The Riksdag, Sweden's parliament, is scheduled to hold its first possible vote on a new prime minister on Sept. 29. Final vote tallies, including remaining ballots, are expected to be completed by Wednesday.