Sweden’s political parties launch coalition talks as both blocs try to secure power

The Social Democrats’ party leader, Magdalena Andersson, has started a long and difficult process of trying to form a new government. Photograph: Jonas Ekstromer/EPA

Sweden’s political parties have launched coalition negotiations as the Social Democrats leader, Magdalena Andersson, started the long and difficult process of trying to form a new government.

Full results from Sunday’s election are not expected until after overseas votes are counted on Wednesday, but with 95% of the votes counted, the Social Democrats and the centre-left bloc had a narrow but growing lead of 176 seats to the right-leaning parties’ 173.