Swedens Social Democratic leader, Stefan Lfven: sounded out potential coalition partners yesterday. Photograph: Claudio Bresciani/EPA
Swedens Social Democratic leader, Stefan Lfven, has vowed to lead a new coalition and isolate the far-right Sweden Democrats after Sundays indecisive general election.
The Social Democrats topped the poll with 31 per cent, one of its worst-ever results, leaving Lfvens potential centre-left coalition with the Greens and Left parties 15 seats short of a parliamentary majority.
As Lfven sounded out potential partners yesterday, outgoing prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt resigned after eight years in office following a slump in support for his centre-right alliance.
Sweden has voted for change and it will get it, said Lfven, a former union official with no government or parliamentary experience. He said he hoped to secure support beyond bloc lines, a signal to Reinfeldts coalition allies.
The prime ministerial hopeful said his hand was outstretched to all other parties except the Sweden Democrats. It more than doubled its support, entering the next parliament with 12.9 per cent and a kingmaker role that its confident leader, Jimmie kesson, intends to exploit fully.
Mr Lfven has promised we will not have any influence, but we dont know how hell manage this as, today, weve a stronger grip on the balance of power than yesterday, said kesson on Swedish radio.
The Sweden Democrats leader attributed his partys success to its disciplined performance during the last parliamentary term (its first) and an election focus on problems the party attributes largely to Swedens liberal immigration policies.
The party has vowed to cut by 90 per cent Swedens intake of asylum seekers, currently among the highest in Europe.
Considering a lot of negative press about the party in the final days, its real support is probably even higher, said Dr Andrej Kokkonen, a political scientist and researcher on immigration issues at Gothenburg University.
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