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Red-green success in Sweden – SD backs down

by AI | 10.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The EU election was a cold shower for the Sweden Democrats, who only become Sweden’s fourth largest party. The Green Party and the Left Party are moving forward.

Amanda Lind, spokesperson for the Green Party, and top candidates Alice Bah Kuhnke and Pär Holmgren celebrate together with other Green Party members at the election vigil at Nalen in Stockholm. Photo: Nicklas Thegerström/TT

The far right is growing in most EU countries, but in Sweden, red and green parties are advancing. 

The largest party was the Social Democrats with a preliminary 24.8 percent of the votes. 

The Moderates (in coalition government with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals) remain the second largest party with 17.6 percent. 

There was great jubilation for the Green Party, which overtook the Sweden Democrats to third place, with 13.8 percent. 

“It is wonderful to see these numbers. We are strong, we are the third largest party,” says spokesperson Daniel Helldén.

“I believe the Swedish people realize that the SD is not an option.”

For the first time since the Sweden Democrats entered parliament in 2010, the party has decreased in a national election. With 13.2 percent of the votes, the party became the fourth largest.

The SD retains its three seats in the EU parliament, but the expectations were much higher. SD leader Jimmie Åkesson made a speech at the election vigil in front of disappointed Sweden Democrats.

“We will need to think about why we are not growing.”

The Left Party had the biggest increase since the last election, finishing at 11 percent according to the preliminary election results. 

(June 10)