Sweden Politically Deadlocked

Updated: The poll stations in the Swedish general election closed a mere two three hours ago. With about 60% 90% of voting districts already counted, it looks like the voter turnout has increased - and that voters have caused quite a mess in the parliament. No likely constellation of parties will reach a majority of seats in parliament. The parliament’s 349 MPs will be distributed proportionally to represent a total of eight parties. The center-right “alliance” four-party government under PM Reinfeldt (marked by * below) has undoubtedly lost the election with a total of 39% to a 44% minority constellation of Three leftist parties. And in the middle is the nationalist/racist party Sweden Democrats as the election’s winner and third largest party in the parliament. The radical feminist party “F!” (Feminist Initiative), it seems, will not make it past the 4% of the popular vote that is necessary to be represented. To form government requires more pro votes than con votes; most decisions during the four-year period to next election require simple majority. The results with about 90% counted (with difference to prior election result within parentheses) is as follows: 5.7 % (+0.1) Vänsterpartiet (radical left, formerly the communist party) 31.1 % (+0.4) Social democrats (progressives) 6.8 % (-0.5) Green party (environmentalists) 5.4 % (-1.7) People’s party (social liberal)* 6.2 % (-0.4) Center party (social liberal)* 23.2 % (-6.9) Moderates (conservative party)* 4.6 % (-1.0) Christian democrats* 13.0 % (+7.4) Sweden democrats 3.1 % (+2.7) Feminist initiative 0.8 % Other