STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s right-wing opposition on Wednesday held on to a narrow lead over the ruling centre-left bloc as counting neared the end after Sunday’s close-fought vote for parliament, election authority data showed.
The Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals held a one-seat lead after Sunday’s election but the results were too close to call before the final postal and overseas votes had been counted.
With 98% of election districts tallied by 1325 GMT on Wednesday, the right looked set to win 175 seats in the 349-seat parliament, which, if confirmed, could give Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson the first chance at forming a new government.
The governing Social Democrats and its loose centre-left bloc were meanwhile on track for 174 seats, the tally showed.
A preliminary count of all votes was expected to be announced on Wednesday or Thursday, the election authority said.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Anna Ringstrom)