Overview
- The national election on Sunday, Sept. 13 will determine whether Ulf Kristersson stays prime minister or Magdalena Andersson returns to lead a centre‑left government.
- Kristersson and his Moderate-led bloc have pledged to give the Sweden Democrats cabinet positions if the right secures a majority, a move the party has demanded in return for support.
- Opinion polls show a knife‑edge race with the centre‑left holding a small lead while the Sweden Democrats poll around 18–20 percent, making smaller parties’ results decisive due to the 4 percent threshold for parliament.
- Kristersson’s government has already tightened asylum rules, abolished permanent residency for refugees and expanded police powers, outcomes supporters link to falling asylum numbers and reduced gang violence.
- If the Sweden Democrats enter government, critics warn it could further normalise a party with far‑right roots and affect civil liberties and social cohesion even as broad cross‑party support for NATO and Ukraine limits Russia as an electoral issue.