Exit poll establishes direction
Sweden’s center-left opposition emerged ahead when voters chose their European Parliament representatives on June 9, 2024. Public broadcaster SVT’s exit poll placed the Social Democrats, Greens, and Left Party near half the national vote. It also showed the Sweden Democrats losing support after years of electoral growth.
The survey gave the three center-left parties a combined share of roughly 49.5 percent. Their performance represented a clear victory over parties supporting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government. However, the European election did not decide Sweden’s national leadership or distribute seats in its parliament.
Final results confirm broad shift
Later counting confirmed the exit poll’s central message, although several percentages changed. The Social Democrats secured 24.77 percent, while the Greens received 13.85 percent. The Left Party captured 10.88 percent, bringing the three parties’ combined total above 49 percent.
Together, those parties won ten of Sweden’s 21 European Parliament seats. The Social Democrats took five seats, while the Greens gained three. The Left Party secured two seats, doubling its previous representation and strengthening its influence within Sweden’s European delegation.
Social Democrats retain first place
The Social Democrats remained Sweden’s largest party, continuing their dominant position in European elections. Former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson leads the party and serves as the country’s main opposition leader. Heléne Fritzon headed its European candidate list during the campaign.
The result improved upon the party’s 2019 European election performance. It also offered encouragement after the Social Democrats lost national power in 2022. Andersson’s party still faces challenges, but the vote demonstrated its broad reach across different regions and social groups.
Greens and Left gain momentum
The Greens delivered one of the election’s strongest performances and finished third nationally. Alice Bah Kuhnke led the party’s list and emphasized climate policy, democracy, and human rights. The party gained a seat and surpassed the Sweden Democrats in the final count.
The Left Party also increased its vote substantially compared with 2019. Former party leader Jonas Sjöstedt returned as its leading European candidate. His campaign combined stronger climate action with labor protections, public investment, and criticism of market-driven European policies.
Sweden Democrats face rare reverse
Attention then shifted toward the Sweden Democrats, who received 13.17 percent of the final vote. The nationalist party had won 15.34 percent five years earlier. Its decline marked a rare setback after decades of rising support in nationwide elections.
The party kept three European Parliament seats despite its smaller vote share. However, fourth place carried considerable symbolic weight after its second-place finish in Sweden’s 2022 national election. That earlier result made it the largest party supporting Kristersson’s governing arrangement.
Government parties produce mixed results
Kristersson’s Moderate Party finished second with 17.53 percent and retained four seats. The Christian Democrats received 5.71 percent and took one seat. The Liberals narrowly cleared the effective electoral threshold, winning 4.37 percent and keeping one representative.
Those three parties govern through a minority coalition formed after the 2022 parliamentary election. They depend on Sweden Democrat support under the Tidö Agreement, which covers migration, crime, energy, and economic policy. The Sweden Democrats hold no cabinet positions but exercise substantial parliamentary influence.
The Center Party holds ground
The opposition Center Party won 7.3 percent and retained two European seats. It supports liberal economic policies and favors deeper cooperation within the European Union. However, it rejects political cooperation with the Sweden Democrats and remains outside the center-left grouping.
That distinction complicates any simple division between Sweden’s government and opposition camps. The Social Democrats, Greens, and Left Party also contested the election separately. Their combined strength reflected parallel gains rather than a formal joint platform or electoral alliance.
Campaign controversy affects closing days
A television investigation created difficulties for the Sweden Democrats before polling day. TV4’s “Kalla fakta” program alleged that party employees operated anonymous social media accounts. The reported accounts promoted favorable material and attacked political opponents, including parties cooperating with the Sweden Democrats.
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson strongly rejected the investigation’s overall portrayal. He described the report as a domestic influence operation and defended some content as political satire. Kristersson called the allegations serious and demanded explanations from his government’s parliamentary partner.
European questions shape the campaign
Parties debated climate rules, migration, organized crime, energy security, and continued assistance for Ukraine. The Greens defended ambitious European climate measures, while conservative parties questioned particular costs and regulations. Most major Swedish parties continued supporting extensive military and economic aid for Ukraine.
Migration also remained important because Sweden had tightened national policies after accepting many asylum seekers during the previous decade. The Sweden Democrats demanded further restrictions and stronger border controls. Left-leaning parties placed greater emphasis on legal protections, shared European responsibility, and humanitarian commitments.
Sweden diverges from Europe’s pattern
The Swedish outcome contrasted with developments across several larger European Union members. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally dominated the French vote, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to call parliamentary elections. Germany’s Alternative for Germany also finished ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats.
Right-wing and nationalist parties increased their collective presence within the European Parliament. Yet traditional pro-European groups retained enough seats to shape its governing majority. Sweden therefore offered a notable exception to the wider narrative of an advancing European far right.
Turnout tempers domestic comparisons
Swedish turnout reached approximately 53.4 percent, down from about 55.3 percent in 2019. National parliamentary elections usually attract participation exceeding 80 percent. Consequently, European results cannot predict a national election with complete reliability.
European campaigns also emphasize different candidates and policy questions. Voters sometimes use them to reward smaller parties or criticize national governments. Nevertheless, the results provide valuable evidence about enthusiasm, campaign organization, and each party’s ability to mobilize supporters.
National implications remain significant
The election did not threaten Kristersson’s government directly because European votes carry no confidence consequences. His coalition retained its parliamentary mandate from 2022. Still, poor results for governing parties and their ally increased pressure before Sweden’s next national election.
The center-left parties gained momentum without resolving questions about future cooperation. The Left Party seeks greater policy influence, while the Greens prioritize climate commitments. The Social Democrats must balance those demands while attracting centrist voters who remain skeptical of broader left-wing programs.
A warning for the far right
For the Sweden Democrats, the result showed that previous growth does not guarantee future advances. The party remained influential and retained all three European seats. However, reduced support challenged its claim that Swedish politics continues moving steadily toward its nationalist platform.
For the opposition, the vote supplied confidence rather than a complete national blueprint. The three center-left parties collectively commanded broad support, while the far right suffered a visible setback. Sweden’s next parliamentary campaign will test whether that European election pattern can survive higher turnout and domestic scrutiny.
