Sweden's centre-left opposition parties are right now leading Sunday's (September 13) election for parliament, and if this result stands the country will get a new government, Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson told a party gathering.

The election results showed a dead heat late on Sunday, with a partial count by the election authority indicating a one-seat majority for the opposition centre-left bloc.

The bloc, headed by Andersson, was expected to win 175 seats in the 349-seat parliament, the Riksdag, based on votes from 4,853 of Sweden's 6,312 election districts, the election authority said.

The right-wing governing bloc of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was seen winning 174 seats, with ballot-counting continuing.

Given the closeness of the race, the winner may not be known for several days, after all overseas ballots have been counted.

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DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON WALKING ONTO STAGE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SAYING:

“Sweden. One person, one vote, the equal worth of all people manifested in practice. One of the finest things humanity has ever come up with.”

3. ANDERSSON ADDRESSING RALLY

4. SUPPORTERS CHEERING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) LEADER OF THE SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SAYING:

“We must now await the final election results. Every vote cast must be counted. But my message is clear: we Social Democrats will always stand ready to take responsibility for the outcome. It appears the race will be very close; regardless of the final result, there is reason to seek a new spirit of cooperation in Swedish politics and for all of us entrusted to represent the Swedish people in the parliament to discharge that responsibility wisely, always putting Sweden and the Swedish people first. But right now, we are in the lead. And if this holds, Sweden will have a new government.”

6. ANDERSSON RECEIVING FLOWERS AND LEAVING STAGE

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 14, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOCTOR, ADONAY ENDRIAS KIDANE, SAYING:

“Actually, this is the first election that the right-wing party (Sweden Democrats) goes back, so that's quite good. But Sweden needs a new direction and we would hope for a larger margin, of course. But it's a tight race. Now the parties have to come together, collaborate and we'll see what type of collaborations will be formed in the next coming of time, so to say.”

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING ELECTION BROADCAST

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, DANIEL CARLSTEDT, SAYING:

“I think we all thought that it would be a more clear result today that we would win this. But now we see that the result is very, very tight and now we will have to wait maybe until Wednesday to know who will win this. And I think we will win it in the end because people want to change. They want to change; they don't want this government; they want to, they want change.”

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING ELECTION BROADCAST

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANAGER OF A THINK THANK, JOHAN SJLANDER, 52, SAYING:

“It will be interesting times in Swedish politics for the weeks to come. And also the policy, the election isn't over yet, so we don't know what the final results will be. And it's very close. So actually a few votes to this side or that side could change everything. So I think very many Swedish people are quite excited right there, quite nervous right now and waiting for the final results to see what will this mean. I think it's too soon to say that.”

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 13, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF PARTY SUPPORTERS DANCING AND CHANTING (Swedish): “The Sweden Democrats dropped the most (votes)”

13. PEOPLE CHEERING

14. VARIOUS OF PARTY SUPPORTERS DANCING AND CHANTING