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Sweden's fractured left holds slim lead in polls before Sunday election
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Sweden's centre-left opposition bloc holds a narrow lead over the incumbent right-wing government ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election, with polls showing between 49.3% and 50.8% support for the left-leaning parties.
- The election is viewed as a referendum on the current government's alliance with the far-right Sweden Democrats, who have influenced a shift toward stricter immigration policies under Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
- Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson remains the favourite to become prime minister again, although the centre-left is divided on which parties should form the government, potentially leading to lengthy negotiations.
- Both political blocs support Ukraine against Russia and favor military rearmament, but the campaign has lacked a single dominant issue, with debates spanning welfare, immigration, and crime.
- The Sweden Democrats, despite a slight drop in support from the last election, continue to be the largest party within the governing coalition but have not joined the cabinet.
