A far-right Swedish party, founded by neo-Nazis in the 1980s, won a narrow majority in the country's parliament on Wednesday, marking a historic political overhaul for the region.
The major political shift in the Scandinavian country comes amid a decades-long history of welcoming refugees but is now grappling with a crime wave linked with immigration. Center0left Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson conceded defeat with 99.9% of the vote from the weekend elections counted on Wednesday.
Far-Right Swedish Party Wins Majority
On the other hand, populist Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson declared victory for the four-party bloc. He said that his party would be "a constructive and driving force" in the work of rebuilding safety in the country, adding that it was "time to put Sweden first."
The bloc, which includes the Sweden Democrats, is the country's second-largest party and won a narrow majority in parliament. However, there were a few votes left outstanding but they are not enough to sway the final outcome.
In a statement, Prime Minister Andersson said that "the preliminary result is clear enough to draw a conclusion that her center-left forces had lost power. She became the country's first female prime minister last year and led the country in its historic bid to join NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as per the Associated Press.
Despite Andersson's popularity, anxiety in the country has grown due to high crime rates in segregated districts that are home to large numbers of immigrants who have failed to integrate into Swedish society. Some people blamed the prime minister's Social Democrats, who have been in power for eight years.
Ulf Kristersson, the leader of Sweden's third-largest party, the Moderates, is considered to be the leading figure in the right-wing bloc and a possible prime minister. He thanked the voters for their trust, saying, "Now we will get Sweden in order."
According to CNBC, the nationalist party campaigned on law-and-order issues following a rise in the number of gun violence in the country. They vowed to bring in longer prison sentences and reduce immigration rates. Sweden, which is home to roughly 10.5 million people, is known for being one of Europe's most progressive states and consistently ranks among the happiest nations worldwide.
Concern for the Years Ahead
On Wednesday, Andersson spoke during a news conference, announcing her intention to resign, and said that the right-wing bloc of parties had a one or two-seat advantage. She said that while it was a thin majority it was still a victory.
The prime minister said that most opinion polls showed that the elections would be close, which means it was not a surprise that it resulted how it did. Andersson said, "I knew that could happen but of course, I am concerned with how the development will be in the coming years."
On the other hand, in Italy, polls show a coalition led by the far-right is poised to win national elections on Sept. 25. Which has the leader of the neofascist Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, positioned to become the nation's first far-right leader since Benito Mussolini, Democracy Now reported.
Related Article:
Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping Meet! US Official Sends Strong Warning to China Amid Support for Russia
