The far-right Sweden Democrats suffered a setback in the recent general election, marking their first loss of voter support since they first entered parliament 16 years ago. Votes were still being counted on Wednesday, but it was clear the party had slipped from being the country's second-biggest party to its third.
The centre-left Social Democrats are now poised for a return to power. Their leader, Magdalena Andersson, could take months to form a coalition, despite strong results for the left and green parties giving her left bloc a narrow three-seat majority.
Political scientist Cas Mudde noted that specific local factors, including a scandal, may have contributed to the decline in the far right's support. However, Ann-Cathrine Jungar, a professor of political science at Södertörn University, believes the Sweden Democrats' influence will endure, stating that electoral rankings fluctuate.