Swedish general election, 9 September 2018

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2018
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Summary:

Sweden held a parliamentary election on 9 September 2018 to elect the members of the Riksdag, which in turn elect the Swedish Prime Minister. Regional and municipal elections are held on the same day.

The turnout was the highest in over 30 years. The Social Democrats won the legislative election but received the lowest support since 1911. The right-wing Sweden Democrats achieved their best electoral result yet, but less than forecast by some analysts. None of the existing political blocs achieved a parliamentary majority.

Further information:

The election campaign received considerable international attention, given the rise of the nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD) in a context where no party or political bloc was seen as within a chance of reaching a parliamentary majority.

The main debating issues during the electoral campaign were connected to immigration, integration, law and order. This was contrary to previous elections, in which the salient topics were the economy and the provision of public services. This shift was seen as the perfect context for the flourishing of the far-right narrative.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Social Europe, 11.09.18: Dark And Disturbing Days For Sweden https://www.socialeurope.eu/dark-and-disturbing-days-for-sweden
LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 10.09.18: Sweden’s election results: The view from across Europe http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/09/10/swedens-election-results-the-view-from-across-europe/
International Politics and Society, 10.09.18: It's not all about migration https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/europe/article/show/its-not-all-about-migration-2969/
COMPROP: Data Memo 2018/3: News and Political Information Consumption in Sweden: Mapping the 2018 Swedish General Election on Twitter http://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2018/09/Hedman-et-al-2018.pdf
Foreign Policy, 06.09.18: Swedes Can’t Go Home Again https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/09/06/swedes-cant-go-home-again-decoder-folkhemmet/
ING: Article, 22.08.18: Swedish elections: Muddy waters https://think.ing.com/articles/swedish-elections-muddy-waters/
ECFR: Commentary, 31.08.18: The march of the populist right: Is Sweden next? https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_march_of_the_populist_right_is_sweden_next
Wikipedia: Swedish general election, 2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_general_election,_2018
Bloomberg, 05.09.18: A Guide to What May Be the Most Tumultuous Swedish Election Yet https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-05/a-guide-to-what-may-be-the-most-tumultuous-swedish-election-yet
Euro|topics, September 2018: Sweden shifting to the right? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/205154/
IFES Election Guide: Election for Swedish Parliament 2018 http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3066/
Robert Schuman Foundation: [Analysis] Swedish General Elections: breakthrough expected by rightwing populists https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/eem/1771-swedish-general-elections-breakthrough-expected-by-rightwing-populists
The Local (Sweden), 07.09.18: Sweden's election is being misreported abroad – and this is a problem https://www.thelocal.se/20180907/sweden-election-misreported-abroad
LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 12.09.18: Sweden’s election: A vote free from meddling? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/09/12/swedens-election-a-vote-free-from-meddling/
Wikipedia: 2018 Swedish general election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Swedish_general_election
Euro|topics, September 2018: Sweden's party landscape in upheaval https://www.eurotopics.net/en/206180/

News
The Guardian, 10.09.18: Far right makes gains as main blocs deadlocked https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/09/swedish-election-far-right-on-course-for-sizeable-gains-in-vote
Radio Sweden: Tag: Election 2018 https://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2054&grupp=25815
Deutsche Welle, 16.09.18: Sweden's general election results in stalemate as far-right support surges https://p.dw.com/p/34aqC
Reuters, 29.08.18: Election, rate expectations push Swedish crown to nine-year low https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1LE1R1
The Local (Sweden): Tag: Swedish election 2018 https://www.thelocal.se/tag/2018+election
Politico: Tag: Swedish election 2018 https://www.politico.eu/tag/swedish-election-2018/

Official
Riksdag: The election 2018 http://www.riksdagen.se/en/the-election-2018/
OSCE: ODIHR: General Elections, 9 September 2018 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/sweden/388586

ESO Records
Formation of Swedish government following parliamentary election in September 2018 https://www.europeansources.info/record/formation-of-swedish-government-following-parliamentary-election-in-september-2018/

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