Far Right Registers 1st Time Success in Sweden Elections

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, acknowledges cheers from party workers and sympathizers om his Moderate Party in Stockholm, after the victory in the Swedish general elections. Photo by EPA/ BGNES

The far-right Sweden Democrats party has won seats in the Parliament for the first time, cutting the ruling center-right coalition short from an overall majority.

The alliance led by centre-right Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was unable to declare clear victory with 172 seats after the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats won 20 of the 349 seats in the country's single assembly, following Sunday's general election.

The Prime Minister, however, reiterated that his four-party Alliance for Sweden would not form a coalition with the far-right. Reinfeldt stated he will seek the support of the opposition Green Party, currently in coalition with the center-left Social Democrats and did not rule out working with the latter.

The success of the far right has shocked many voters in Sweden, BBC reports informing the Sweden Democrats appear to have tapped into voter dissatisfaction over immigration.

Immigrants make up 14% of the country's population of 9.4 million.

The center-left Social Democrats have ruled Sweden for 65 of the past 78 years, and are credited with setting up the country's generous welfare state.

 

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