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Sweden election: Social Democrats 'in the lead' - exit poll | Sweden election: Social Democrats 'in the lead' - exit poll |
(34 minutes later) | |
Sweden's opposition Social Democrats appear set to win most votes in the general election, an exit poll says. | Sweden's opposition Social Democrats appear set to win most votes in the general election, an exit poll says. |
Public broadcaster SVT said the centre-left bloc would get 44.8%, with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition trailing with 39.7%. | Public broadcaster SVT said the centre-left bloc would get 44.8%, with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition trailing with 39.7%. |
A new coalition may need the support of the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, with whom no mainstream party wants to work. | |
Mr Reinfeldt has been praised for how he has handled the economic crisis. | |
A Social Democrats win would be a return to normality in Sweden. They have not been in opposition for so long since first taking power in 1920. | A Social Democrats win would be a return to normality in Sweden. They have not been in opposition for so long since first taking power in 1920. |
Polling stations opened at 06:00 GMT and closed at 18:00 GMT. | Polling stations opened at 06:00 GMT and closed at 18:00 GMT. |
Another coalition? | Another coalition? |
Since coming to power, Mr Reinfeldt's coalition government has cut income and corporate taxes, abolished a tax on wealth and trimmed welfare benefits. | Since coming to power, Mr Reinfeldt's coalition government has cut income and corporate taxes, abolished a tax on wealth and trimmed welfare benefits. |
It has also privatised several state-owned companies, including the maker of Absolut vodka. | It has also privatised several state-owned companies, including the maker of Absolut vodka. |
After voting in Stockholm, Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven said he felt good, adding: "We have focused on our main issues - jobs, schools welfare." | After voting in Stockholm, Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven said he felt good, adding: "We have focused on our main issues - jobs, schools welfare." |
Mr Reinfeldt, who voted in another part of the city, spoke of a "formidable campaign", saying that his party was ready for another four years in power. | |
The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who entered parliament for the first time in 2010, are alone in opposing the country's liberal immigration policy, and could hold the balance of power. | |
Exit polls showed them getting more than 10% of the vote. | |
Sweden this year expects up to 80,000 asylum-seekers from Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries - the highest number since 1992. | Sweden this year expects up to 80,000 asylum-seekers from Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries - the highest number since 1992. |