Sweden’s Social Democrat-led opposition has secured a preliminary three-seat parliamentary advantage over the governing conservative coalition, positioning former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson for a possible return to power once the election result is certified.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s governing conservative coalition is on course to lose power after a closely contested national election left a Social Democrat-led opposition bloc with a preliminary three-seat majority in the country’s 349-member parliament.
With virtually all ballots counted, the opposition parties have secured 176 seats, while the governing right-wing bloc stands at 173.
The count remains preliminary. Sweden’s Election Authority is expected to certify the final result this weekend.
If the current allocation holds, former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson would be positioned to attempt a return to government four years after her Social Democrats moved into opposition.
The Social Democrats again emerged as Sweden’s largest individual political party, receiving approximately 28% of the vote. Despite maintaining the top share nationally, the party lost eight parliamentary seats.
Other parties within the prospective opposition governing bloc made gains. The Left Party added six seats, while the Greens gained four.
A government led by Andersson would depend on cooperation among four parties with differing political priorities: the Social Democrats, the socialist Left Party, the Greens and the Centre Party. Together, their preliminary seat total would provide the narrow majority needed to control parliament.
The three-seat margin leaves little room for defections or disagreements within the alliance if Andersson is able to assemble a government.
The preliminary outcome would reverse the result that pushed the Social Democrats out of government four years ago and return the party to the center of negotiations over Sweden’s next governing coalition.
Final control of parliament will not be formally determined until election officials complete certification of the vote this weekend.
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