The Sweden Democrats, a far-right party with roots linked to neo-Nazi movements, are on the verge of entering government for the first time if the right-wing bloc led by incumbent Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wins Sunday's general election. Opinion polls initially predicted a comfortable victory for the center-left opposition led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, but the race has narrowed significantly in the final stretch. With eight million eligible voters in a nation of 10.6 million, turnout is expected to exceed 80%, and polling stations close at 8 p.m. (1900 UTC), with early results expected hours later. Around half of all votes have already been cast in advance.
Andersson, who led the Social Democrats and served as Sweden's first female prime minister from 2021 to 2022, warned voters of a government "totally dominated" by the Sweden Democrats, urging support for her leadership. Kristersson's campaign has emphasized reductions in violent and organized crime and stricter immigration controls, positions that have drawn criticism for targeting immigrants and undermining civil liberties. He has pledged key government roles to the Sweden Democrats if his coalition wins, breaking from political norms in countries like Germany that maintain a firewall against far-right parties. Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats since 2010, declared at a rally in Stockholm that his party "has already won," and is expected to become migration minister should the right-wing alliance prevail.
Ulf Kristersson's promise of government posts to the Sweden Democrats normalizes a party whose founders had ties to neo-Nazi movements. This election tests whether mainstream acceptance of far-right parties reshapes the boundaries of European coalition politics.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
