Sweden's Tight Election Could Bring the Far Right Into Government
Swedes voted on 13 September 2026 for the Riksdag, Sweden's parliament, and for regional and municipal councils, in a contest that could bring the far-right Sweden Democrats into government for the first time.
Polls opened at 8am local time and were scheduled to close at 8pm local time, 7pm UK time. Two exit polls, conducted by SVT and TV4, were expected at close of voting, with a further projection from public broadcaster SVT expected about an hour later. The Guardian
The vote for the Riksdag will determine which parties have the parliamentary numbers to back the next government. The Swedish Election Authority lists the 2026 polls as ordinary elections to the Riksdag and to regional and municipal councils. Swedish Election Authority
The contest pitted incumbent Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, leader of the centre-right Moderates, against former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats and head of the opposition red bloc, a grouping of left and centre-left parties. Jimmie Akesson led the Sweden Democrats into the election. AFP
Kristersson has governed since 2022 at the head of a minority coalition, meaning a government without its own majority, kept in office by a deal with the Sweden Democrats. For 2026, he promised ministerial posts, or cabinet jobs, for the Sweden Democrats if returned to power.
The key question for what happens next is the status of the Sweden Democrats. Kristersson's promise has made whether they stay outside or move inside the cabinet the central issue for forming a government.
The election was described as effectively a referendum on whether the far-right Sweden Democrats should enter government. Reuters Climate policy, taxes and support for Ukraine were among the issues on voters' minds. Reuters
The margin was very tight. Reuters reported on 3 September, with 10 days to go, that polling showed a close race. Andersson told reporters in early September that the election was "going to be close." Reuters
Three opinion polls published on Friday, 11 September, put the centre-left opposition bloc narrowly ahead before Sunday's parliamentary vote. Reuters By polling day, the red bloc's lead had narrowed to less than one percentage point in the final days.
The broader context here is parliamentary arithmetic, not just vote share. Sweden uses a proportional system, so the 349 Riksdag seats, or mandates, are divided roughly in line with votes, and bloc politics decide who can govern. A lead of less than a point offers no guarantee of a majority. A shift of a few thousand votes across constituencies can reorder the seat distribution and decide which bloc gets the first attempt at forming a government.
Looking at what this means for coalition practice, the pledges on cabinet inclusion matter more than the headline result. After 2022, the Sweden Democrats acted as a support party, with influence but no portfolios and no shared cabinet responsibility. Ministerial posts would place them inside the government, with control of ministries, a role in budget preparation and a role in EU coordination. For diplomats and EU policymakers, that distinction affects how Stockholm negotiates, who sits in EU Council meetings, and how durable any coalition agreement proves under stress.
The near-term sequence is fixed. Exit polls give an early read. The SVT projection refines it. The official count, including advance and overseas votes, then determines the mandates. If neither bloc secures a clear majority, the Speaker will hold rounds of talks and the Riksdag will hold a prime ministerial vote to test whether Kristersson's promise or Andersson's red-bloc alternative can be tolerated by a majority.
What to expect from here is patience. With a gap of less than a point, prolonged talks are likely.
