Sweden held its regularly scheduled general election, one of the year's most closely watched European votes, with early indications pointing to a competitive outcome between the country's two main political blocs.
Sweden elects its 349-member parliament, the Riksdag, every four years, and this year's vote followed a term led by a center-right coalition that had governed with the parliamentary support of the Sweden Democrats. According to an initial exit poll released by Sweden's public broadcaster SVT, the left-wing opposition bloc was running ahead of the governing right-wing bloc by 4.5 percentage points, though exit polls in close, multi-party systems like Sweden's can shift once official counting is complete.
As in past Swedish elections, the campaign touched on immigration policy, energy costs and crime, alongside the broader economic pressures being felt across Europe this year, including from elevated energy prices. Sweden's electoral system is built around coalition politics, meaning that even a narrow lead in the popular vote does not guarantee a governing majority, and negotiations among parties to form a government could take weeks once final results are certified.
The vote is being watched closely elsewhere in Europe as a signal of the political mood on the continent at a moment when several governments are managing energy costs tied to the Middle East conflict and continued support for Ukraine.
Final, certified results and the subsequent coalition talks will determine whether Sweden's government changes hands; those negotiations are typically the more consequential story than the election night exit poll itself.
How often does Sweden hold elections?
Sweden holds general elections for its parliament, the Riksdag, every four years.
Is the exit poll the final result?
No, exit polls give an early indication, but official counting and, often, coalition negotiations determine the actual outcome.