Sweden Election: Far Right Could Enter Government for First Time - Tempo.co English
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sweden is holding a general election on Sunday, September 13, with the center-left opposition seeking to return to power after four years while the far-right Sweden Democrats are seeking to enter government for the first time.
According to DW, opinion polls had long projected a comfortable lead for the left-wing alliance over the right-wing bloc led by incumbent Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, whose coalition includes the Sweden Democrats. But the opposition's lead has narrowed in the final days of the campaign.
The four-party opposition alliance is led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, head of the center-left Social Democrats.
"We all knew it was going to be a very close election; I've said that all along," Andersson, who became Sweden's first female prime minister in 2021, said at a rally in Stockholm on Saturday, as quoted by DW.
"Now it's up to voters: do they want a government that will be totally dominated by the Sweden Democrats, or do they want a government led by me?"
The Social Democrats have governed Sweden for most of the past century and remain the country's largest political party.
The left-wing bloc has campaigned on strengthening the welfare state and addressing rising living costs.
Kristersson's right-wing government has focused its campaign on its record of tackling violent and organized crime, as well as tightening immigration policies.
Supporters of the right-wing bloc say a victory would show that voters back the government's approach. Critics, however, argue that the policies risk undermining civil liberties and disproportionately affecting immigrants.
"We can unify parties, voters and issues into joint action. That's why we get things done," Kristersson said in parliament this week.
Unlike in Germany, where major parties have ruled out cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany under a political "firewall," Kristersson has pledged to offer the Sweden Democrats key government posts if his alliance wins the election.
DW also reported that Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson told a campaign rally in Stockholm on Saturday that his party "have already won," as it seeks to enter government for the first time since winning seats in parliament in 2010.
"Sweden is becoming safer, better, and more Swedish," the 47-year-old said.
Akesson is expected to become migration minister if the right-wing alliance wins the election.
Around 8 million people are eligible to vote in Sweden, which has a population of about 10.6 million. Voter turnout regularly exceeds 80 percent.
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 8 PM (1900 UTC), with initial results expected several hours later on Sunday night.
Around half of the votes had already been cast in advance.
