rime Minister Magdalena Andersson conceded defeat in a news conference in Stockholm
(Picture: AP)Sweden’s centre-left Prime Minister will resign after a right-wing bloc which includes a populist anti-immigration party won a majority in parliamentary elections.
Magdalena Andersson, of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, conceded defeat in a major political shift, with 99.9% of the vote from the weekend elections counted Wednesday.
She said she would step down Thursday.
Jimmie Akesson, populist Sweden Democrats leader, declared victory for the four-party bloc, saying his party would be “a constructive and driving force" in the work of rebuilding safety in Sweden.
He said it was "time to put Sweden first." Mr Akesson’s party had capitalised on fears about crime, with its politicians claiming gang-based crime was a result of liberal immigration policies.
However, the head of Sweden's Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, is likely to become the next Prime Minister.
Although his party is smaller than the Sweden Democrats, Mr Akesson cannot get the broad backing needed from the right to command a government.
Mr Kristersson said he would build a government “for all of Sweden and all citizens".
“There is a big frustration in society, a fear of the violence, concern about the economy, the world is very uncertain and the political polarisation has become far too big also in Sweden," he said.
“Therefore my message is that I want to unite, not divide."
Prime Minister Andersson conceded that “the preliminary result is clear enough to draw a conclusion” that she had lost power.
Ms Andersson became Sweden's first female prime minister last year and led the country in its historic bid to join NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The tally gave the right-wing bloc 176 seats in the 349-parliament, the Riksdag, and Andersson's centre-left bloc 173 seats. A majority in Sweden requires 175 seats.
“The four right-wing parties appear to have received just under 50% of the votes in the election, and in the Riksdag, they have gained one or two mandates. A thin majority, but it is a majority," Andersson said Wednesday.
“Tomorrow I will therefore request my dismissal as Prime Minister and the responsibility for the continued process will now pass to the Parliament Speaker and the Riksdag."
