Jimmy Akesson, who leads the nationalist and anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, said his party would be “a constructive and driving force” to rebuild security in the country, adding that it was “time to put Sweden first”. The populist group of Sweden Democrats, Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals appear to have won a slim majority now that most votes have been counted – with 176 seats in the Riksdag, compared to 173 for the centre-left group. However, while Mr Akesson’s party appears to have the majority of the vote with 20.6%, it will be moderate Ulf Kristersson who will lead the new government as his coalition partners will not back the Sweden Democrat leader because of his party’s far-right roots. Mr Kristersson, whose party appears to have secured 19.1% of the vote, said: “I will now begin the task of forming a new government that can get things done, a government for all of Sweden and all of citizens”. Current Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has already accepted defeat, saying “the preliminary result is clear enough to conclude” that she has lost power. But he said he understood concerns about the former fringe party’s victory, adding: “I see your concern and I share it.” Andersson became Sweden’s first female prime minister in 2021 and led the country in its bid to join NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said: “The four right-wing parties appear to have received just under 50% of the vote in the election and in the Riksdag they have won one or two mandates. A slim majority, but it is a majority. “Therefore, tomorrow I will request my dismissal as prime minister and the responsibility for the continuation of the process will now pass to the speaker of the parliament and the Riksdag.”
