Sweden gives final election tally amid political uncertainty

HELSINKI – Swedish officials have officially confirmed the ruling Social Democratic Party won the most votes in the Sept. 9 general election despite a record low result and the far-right Sweden Democrats getting a big boost amid growing anti-immigration sentiment.

Election officials presented the final tally Sunday that showed Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s Social Democrats getting 28.3 per cent, the centre-right Moderate Party 19.8 per cent and the Sweden Democrats 17.5 per cent.

Neither the left-leaning bloc led by the Social Democrats nor the Moderates-led opposition, centre-right bloc managed to secure a governing majority in the 349-seat parliament.

The result means Sweden will face weeks of political uncertainty amid expected government formation talks.

Both blocs have refused to co-operate with the Sweden Democrats, a potential kingmaker in Cabinet formation talks. Voter turnout was 87.2 per cent.