Key facts
- Swedes voted in an election on Sunday that could see the far-right Sweden Democrats enter government for the first time.
- Opinion polls indicate a narrow lead for the center-left opposition alliance led by Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson.
- Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has pledged to bring the Sweden Democrats into government if his bloc wins.
- The Sweden Democrats' platform includes proposals to cut immigration and revoke permanent residency permits.
- Experts warn that a far-right government could further undermine Sweden's reputation as a human rights champion.
Swedes voted in an election on Sunday that could see the far-right Sweden Democrats enter government for the first time, aligning with a broader European trend of rising far-right parties. Opinion polls indicated a tight race, with the center-left bloc, led by Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson, holding a narrow lead over the ruling right-wing bloc. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, leader of the center-right Moderates, has pledged to bring the Sweden Democrats into government if his coalition wins.
The Sweden Democrats, led by Jimmie Akesson, have spent four years propping up Kristersson's minority government and have gained credibility with the broader right-wing bloc. Their platform includes proposals to cut immigration, revoke permanent residency permits, and legislation against "anti-Swedish sentiment." Experts have voiced concerns that a far-right government could further erode Sweden's international reputation as a human rights champion, with John Stauffer, legal director at Civil Rights Defenders, noting that the current government has already shifted policies on crime and immigration.