Stockholm, Sept. 12 (BNA): Sweden awoke Monday to the prospect of weeks of political uncertainty after neither of the country’s two blocs secured a clear governing majority in an election that saw another boost for the far-right party that is now the country’s second largest. .
With over 94% of the vote counted, the centre-right opposition that includes Sweden’s second largest party, the Swedish Democrats, had very little advantage over the ruling Social Democrats and their allies in the center-left bloc headed by the prime minister. Magdalena Anderson, who has not yet resigned.
The result was so close that the election authority said the final result would not be known until Wednesday, when uncounted votes, including those cast abroad, were counted, according to the Associated Press.
So far, preliminary results make it unlikely that any party will secure a majority of 175 seats in Sweden’s 349-seat parliament.
“It’s incredibly close. It’s basically tossing a coin with 50-50 to both sides. So, we don’t know at the moment,” said Zeith Isaacson, a sociologist at Stockholm University.
The biggest winner of the evening was the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which had a strong performance of around 21%, its best result ever. The party secured promises to crack down on the shootings and other gang violence that had shaken the sense of safety for many in Sweden.
The party has its roots in the white nationalist movement, but years ago it began to drive out extremists. Despite its rebranding, it has long been considered unacceptable by voters and ignored by other parties. But this matter has changed, and its outcome in these elections shows how successful it has been in gaining acceptance.
The Social Democrats, who have been in power in Sweden since 2014, remain the largest party with 30.5% of the vote. Anderson said it is clear that the social democratic movement, which is based on the ideals of creating an equal society and a strong welfare state, is still strong in Sweden.
The conservative bloc was led during the campaign by the center-right moderates, who won with 19%. Leader Ulf Christerson told his supporters that he was willing to try to form a stable and effective government.
However, Sweden is likely to face a lengthy process to form a government, as happened after the 2018 elections.
Andersen, a 55-year-old economist, became Sweden’s first female prime minister less than a year ago and led Sweden’s historic bid to join NATO.