Swedish elections: left back in power but far-right surges

The centre-left Social Democrats, one of Sweden's largest and oldest parties, won the biggest percentage of the vote in yesterday's election, but failed to secure a parliamentary majority.

As the country transitions from two years of conservative rule, Sweden now faces the prospect of a weak minority government in which the far-right Sweden Democrats could hold the balance of power.

The party received 12.9 per cent of the vote, more than double what it secured in the last election, to become Sweden's third largest party. The Spectator's Fraser Nelson described them as "the only real winners" in this year's election.

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The party has gained support off the back of its vocal opposition to the country's liberal immigration policy. This year Sweden is expected to accept 80,000 asylum seekers from Syria and across the Middle East and Africa, a number the Sweden Democrats want to cut by 90 per cent.

The Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven is expected to begin lengthy negotiations with the Green Party and the Left Party today, having made it clear that they will not work with the far-right group.

"You can't avoid taking us into account if you want to run the country," said Sweden Democrat leader Jimme Akesson, according to Reuters. "We are holding the absolute balance of power now."

"Cracks [have] start to show in the 'Nordic model'," writes the Guardian's Philip Olterman. Income gaps and unemployment are increasing while benefits are decreasing. The success of the far-right group has shown that "the main Swedish parties have failed," said Åsa Romson, leader of the Swedish Green Party.

Despite their refusal to work with the Sweden Democrats, some commentators argue that the centre-left bloc may be forced to strike a deal with members of the far right party in order to avoid political deadlock.

The effects of the election will also be felt in the rest of Europe. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's departure was described by the Wall Street Journal as a "blow" to his fellow conservative leaders, David Cameron and Angela Merkel. Indeed, he said before stepping down: "It has been amazing to have been able to work with some of the most capable leaders that I think exist {...] Angela Merkel, David Cameron and Mark Rutte [the Dutch PM]."

The full results:

• Social Democrats 31.2%
• Moderate Party 23.2%
• Sweden Democrats 12.9%
• Green Party 6.8%
• Centre Party 6.1%
• Left Party 5.7%
• Liberal Party 5.4%
• Christian Democrats 4.6%