Key facts
- Swedish police have started preliminary investigations into five complaints of election fraud around Stockholm.
- Two of the cases involve potential vote-buying.
- Prosecutors are also investigating potential fraud in Borlange.
- The Borlange investigation centers on the election of Left Party candidate Mohamed Abdukardir Ali.
Police in Stockholm said on Friday they had started preliminary investigations into five complaints of election fraud around Sweden's capital, days after a probe was launched in another area. The investigations cast a further shadow over the September 13 national vote, which saw the opposition narrowly defeat the incumbent right-wing government.
Stockholm police stated they received five complaints, including one concerning the vote in the suburb of Jarva. A police spokesperson added that two of the cases involved potential vote-buying, but declined to provide further details or name the other areas.
It remains unclear what impact these cases might have on the election results in the affected areas, should any wrongdoing be discovered. On Tuesday, prosecutors announced they were investigating potential fraud in the central Swedish town of Borlange, a case that could put 11 parliamentary seats in play if the Election Review Board orders a re-run.
The Prosecution Authority stated on Thursday that no indictments had been issued in relation to the allegations in Borlange and no suspects had been formally identified. The investigation in Borlange centers on the election of Mohamed Abdukardir Ali, a Left Party candidate for parliament, who unexpectedly overtook other representatives on the ballot for the party. The Left Party said on Tuesday that Ali would take a leave of absence while the allegations were investigated. Reuters was unable to immediately reach Ali for comment.