- Title: Swedes wake up to a possible change in government in cliffhanger election
- Date: 12th September 2022
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) 30-YEAR-OLD POLITICAL SCIENCE Ph.D. STUDENT, OSKAR HULTIN BACKERSTEN, SAYING: "I think one of the most striking changes is that now we have the radical right party, the Sweden Democrats, that will be part of a coalition of some sort if this result stands. So they might not be part of the actual government, but they will be part of the parties that support the government. And that will be the first time for Sweden. We have seen that happen in a lot of European countries and similar countries. So I think that is probably like the most striking change." CITY CENTRE STREET PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 50-YEAR-OLD GRAPHIC DESIGNER, METTE (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING: "Personally slightly disappointed and confused because we haven't really got the results yet." FOUNTAIN WITH ELECTION POSTERS IN THE FOREGROUND PEOPLE WALKING ON THE MAIN SHOPPING STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANK EMPLOYEE, TOBIAS WERNER, SAYING: "It's still very unclear, I think. So it's a little bit like the last period, we'll see what's happened, it's probably going to crystallise in like two or three weeks." JOURNALIST: "And how does that make you feel?" "A little bit sad because not much is going to change, I guess."
- Embargoed: 26th September 2022 09:08
- Keywords: Magdalena Andersson Moderates SD Social Democrats Sweden Democrats Swedish election 2022 Ulf Kristersson close-run election election tight race
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA005455511092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Early on Monday (September 12), figures showed Sweden's right bloc inching into the narrowest of leads with around 90% of votes counted after Sunday's (September 11) general election, with results pointing to a new government after eight years of Social Democrat rule.
With counting still underway, figures showed Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Liberals winning 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament against 173 for the centre-left.
In further evidence of a shift to the right, the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats are set to overtake the Moderates as Sweden's second biggest party and the biggest in the opposition - a historic shift in a country that has long prided itself on tolerance and openness.
"I think one of the most striking changes is that now we have the radical right party, the Sweden Democrats will be part of a coalition of some sort. If this result stands. So they might not be part of the actual government, but they will be part of the parties that support the government. And that will be a first time for Sweden," said political science Ph.D. student Oscar Hultin Backersten.
The increase in the Sweden Democrat's share of the vote made Anna, who declined to give her surname, "super worried."
"I don't like their tone, how they talk about integration and immigration and stuff," she said.
Nevertheless, Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson is likely to be the right's candidate for prime minister.
With overseas and some postal votes yet to be counted and the margin between the two blocs wafer-thin, results could still change. Social Democrat Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson did not concede defeat on election night, saying results were too close to call.
The election authority said a preliminary result would be available on Wednesday (September 14) at the earliest.
(Production: Janis Laizans, Isabella Ronca, Ilze Filks) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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