Key facts
- Sweden Democrats saw their vote share fall by about 3 percentage points in Sunday's parliamentary election.
- The decline in support for the Sweden Democrats was the largest of any party.
- The Sweden Democrats' vote fall was a decisive factor in giving the center-left opposition a projected tight victory over the governing bloc.
- The center-left opposition bloc is projected to win by about 42,500 votes and two seats.
- Sweden Democrats leaders acknowledged that policies such as a proposed ban on Islamic headscarves may have driven opponents to the polls.
- Turnout rose about 3 percentage points to 67.5% in urban districts with a high proportion of foreign-born inhabitants.
The far-right Sweden Democrats experienced their first-ever decline in support in a parliamentary election, slipping to third place and potentially paving the way for the center-left Social Democrats to return to power. Party leaders acknowledged that tough policies, such as a proposed ban on Islamic headscarves, may have motivated opponents to vote.
Analysis from AI firm Vera Policy showed that in districts with a high proportion of foreign-born inhabitants, the center-left gained significant votes, contributing to a tight projected victory for their bloc. Turnout in these urban areas increased notably.
Sweden Democrats leaders suggested that while parties in power are often punished by voters, specific policy proposals might have galvanized opposition. The party has previously apologized for past neo-Nazi links and antisemitism as part of efforts to present a more moderate image.