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| Sweden election: PM Frederik Reinfeldt concedes defeat | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has conceded defeat in the general election, saying he will step down on Monday as PM and party leader. | |
| Partial results show the opposition Social Democrats are set to return to power, but with no clear majority. | |
| They give the centre-left bloc 43.7%, ahead of the 39.1% for Mr Reinfeldt's ruling centre-right coalition. | |
| The new coalition may now have to rely on support from the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. | |
| "The centre-left has more seats [in parliament] than our alliance," Mr Reinfeldt told his supporters. | |
| "So tomorrow I am going to hand in mine and my government's resignation," he said. | |
| A Social Democrats win would be a return to normality in Sweden after 80 years. 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 after 80 years. 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". | Mr Reinfeldt, who voted in another part of the city, spoke of a "formidable campaign". |
| 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. | 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. |
| A projection after a partial vote count on Sunday night showed them becoming the third largest party, gaining 13% of the vote. | A projection after a partial vote count on Sunday night showed them becoming the third largest party, gaining 13% of the vote. |
| "We're the absolute kingmaker in parliament now," Jimmie Aakesson, leader of the far-right party, said afterwards. | "We're the absolute kingmaker in parliament now," Jimmie Aakesson, leader of the far-right party, said afterwards. |
| 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. |