Sweden's vote leaders struggle to form government after election shifts power to left bloc

Published December 09, 2015

Opposition leader Stefan Lofven speaks at the election night party of the Social Democrats, in Stockholm, Sweden, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. Sweden's Social Democrats were poised to return to power as the leaders of a left-leaning bloc that defeated the center-right government in a parliamentary election Sunday, but without an absolute majority. (AP Photo / News Agency TT, Jonas Ekstromer) SWEDEN OUT (The Associated Press)

Sweden's Social-led bloc is struggling to form a government after it ousted the center-right ruling coalition in Sunday's parliamentary election but fell short of a majority.

After eight years in power, conservative Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt conceded defeat after his bloc lost support with 142 seats in the 349-seat Parliament while the opposition Social Democrat-led Red-Green won 158 seats.

The election also saw a surge in support for anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party which more than doubled its seats to 49 seats, from the previous election in 2010. However, it is unlikely to attain its goal of sharply reducing immigration because all other parties favor a liberal asylum policy.

Government formation talks are expected to last days as the Social Democrats try to form a new majority coalition.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/swedens-vote-leaders-struggle-to-form-government-after-election-shifts-power-to-left-bloc