Sweden election: Social Democrats rule out far-right pact

Early exit polls showed Sweden’s centre-left opposition coalition with a clear lead in national elections held on the 14 September 2014. While the centre-right fell behind, the far-right appeared to be making gains.

This was confirmed by final results. The leader of Sweden's Social Democrats, Stefan Lofven, said he would try to form a coalition government after their election win, but would not work with the far right Sweden Democrats who secured 13% of the vote.

Stefan Löfven agreed to form a government with the Green Party (Miljöpartiet), but also ruled out forming a coalition with the Left Party (Vänsterpartiet).

On 2 October 2014, the Riksdagen, Sweden's parliament, formally confirmed Stefan Löfven as the country's next prime minister.

Deutsche Welle, 14.09.14: Sweden center-left opposition leads polls, but without absolute majority http://dw.de/p/1DCAW

ESO: Background information: Swedish general election, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/swedish-general-election-2014/

The Local.se: Live Blog: Sweden elections 2014 http://www.thelocal.se/20140914/the-locals-live-blog-sweden-elections-stockholm

EurActiv, 15.09.14: Reinfeldt steps down as Swedes vote for centre-left government http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/reinfeldt-steps-down-swedes-vote-centre-left-government-308428

The Local.se, 14.09.14: Social Democrats win Swedish election http://www.thelocal.se/20140914/reinfeldt-steps-down-after-election-defeat

Deutsche Welle, 14.09.14: Center-left celebrates as Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt concedes http://dw.de/p/1DCBk

Euronews, 15.09.14: Sweden elects minority centre-left government http://www.euronews.com/2014/09/15/sweden-elects-minority-centre-left-government/

The Guardian, 15.09.14: Sweden's Social Democrats face weak minority government http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/15/sweden-social-democrats-election-victory

BBC News, 15.09.14: Sweden election: Left turn as far right soars http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29201660

The Guardian, 14.09.14: Sweden set for minority-left government as far right makes gains http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/14/sweden-election-minority-left-government

EurActiv, 16.09.14: Fractious politics to test new Swedish leader's negotiating skills http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/fractious-politics-test-new-swedish-leaders-negotiating-skills-308459

The Local.se, 16.09.14: Löfven rules out making government with the Left http://www.thelocal.se/20140916/lfven-rules-out-making-government-with-left

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 16.09.14: Change of government in Sweden http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER150463-Change-of-government-in-Sweden

The Local.se, 16.09.14: Löfven to get no help from Sweden's Liberals http://www.thelocal.se/20140916/lfven-to-get-no-help-from-swedens-liberals

The Conversation, 17.09.14: Explainer: where next for Sweden after election scramble? http://theconversation.com/explainer-where-next-for-sweden-after-election-scramble-31755

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 17.09.14: The key dynamic in Sweden’s general election was the centre-right losing out to the far-right Sweden Democrats http://bit.ly/1meqzQi

The Local.se, 18.09.14: Social Democrats get permission to govern http://www.thelocal.se/20140918/social-democrats-get-go-ahead-to-form-government

Dagens Nyheter, 19.09.14: Sweden Democrats also entitled to posts (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE150692-Sweden-Democrats-also-entitled-to-posts

Social Europe Journal, 23.09.14: An Interview With Stefan Löfven http://www.social-europe.eu/2014/09/stefan-lofven/

The Local.se, 15.09.14: How Sweden Democrats went mainstream http://www.thelocal.se/20140915/how-did-the-sweden-democrat-go-mainstream

EurActiv, 03.10.14: Löfven confirmed as Sweden's next prime minister http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/lofven-confirmed-swedens-next-prime-minister-308898

The Local.se, 02.10.14: Stefan Löfven voted in as new Prime Minister http://www.thelocal.se/20141002/stefan-lofven-voted-in-as-swedens-new-prime-minister

---