Sweden will vote Sunday in an election in which the ruling centre-left Social Democrats will compete against a far-right bloc that has joined forces with anti-immigration Swedish Democrats in a bid to reassert power after eight years in opposition.
The number of shootings worries voters, and in the election campaigns, partisan divisions over gang crimes, while soaring inflation and the energy crisis after the war in Ukraine are increasingly coming to the fore.
The right is focusing on law and order, but skyrocketing energy prices for households and businesses due to the looming economic crisis could support Social Democrat Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who is seen as trustworthy, responsible and more popular than her party.
“My clear message is that we have supported Swedish businesses and families during the pandemic. I will do the same again if I get your trust again,” Andersson said during a recent discussion ahead of the vote.
Andersen was finance minister for many years, and a year ago she became Sweden’s first female prime minister. Its main rival is the leader of the moderate party, Ulf Kristerson, who considers himself the only one who is able to unite the right and oust them.
Kristerson has spent years deepening ties with the anti-immigration Swedish Democrats, whose founding members include white supremacists. The Swedish Democrats were initially shunned by all other parties, but are now part of the mainstream right.
“We will prioritize law and order, making profitable the work and building of new clean nuclear power,” Kristerson said in a video released by his party. “We just want to highlight Sweden.”
Opinion polls show a convergence of the center-left with the right-wing bloc, with the Swedish Democrats appearing to have recently overtaken the moderates to become the second largest party after the Social Democrats.
Polling stations are due to close at 18:00 GMT.
Source: El Nashra