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<p>The Scandinavian country of Sweden goes into polls on Sunday later this week to choose a new government. The ruling left-wing minority government of Social Democrats is up against the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats who find themselves on the centre-right and far-right end of the political spectrums, respectively.</p>

<p>For decades, the Social Democrats have dominated the political landscape of Sweden. However, the equations are not so simple this time.</p>

<p>Immigration has become a central theme in the elections and the far-right leaders have managed to sway the masses into their corner by dubbing the immigrants as the root cause of the problems, plaguing the western European country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With West Asia and Africa constantly in turmoil, refugees from countries like Syria and Libya have started to migrate in large swathes to Western Europe, especially in Germany, France, and Belgium. Sweden hasn't been left behind either.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sweden, which largely has been a peace-loving nation found itself in news for the rise of radical Islam. In 2020, the city of Malmo witnessed riots where radical Islamists went on a rampage and razed public property, destroyed police cars, and pelted stones on the law and order officers.</p>

<p>Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/riot-breaks-out-in-southern-sweden-after-anti-islam-actions-323819">&nbsp;Riot breaks out in southern Sweden after 'anti-Islam' actions</a></p>

<p>Since then, the far-right parties have seized on the initiative and looked to corner the ruling political class for its pro-immigration stance. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats, time and again have brought up the neo-Nazi past of the Sweden Democrats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sweden's first female Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who assumed the chair after Stefan Löfven lost a no-confidence motion last year in June has a tough task in hand. Andersson is a popular face but the rise of Sweden Democrats threatens her re-election bid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Swedish general elections take place every four years to elect 349 members who sit in the Swedish parliament, also called the Riksdag. It is pertinent to note that alongside the parliamentary elections, regional and municipal elections are also taking place.</p>

<p>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-killed-in-sweden-mall-shooting-attack-suspect-teenage-boy-arrested-508596">One killed in Sweden mall shooting; suspect teenage boy arrested</a></p>

<p>The voting has already begun as Swedish voters can vote in the Swedish embassies overseas. However, the turnout has been low so far.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sweden, national parliamentary election:<br />
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Reported early voting turnout after five days of voting remains lower than in 2014 and 2018:<br />
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2022: 3.9%<br />
2018: 4.9%<br />
2014: 4.5%<br />
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The election takes place on 11/09/22.<br />
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Source: Swedish Election Authority<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/svpol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#svpol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Elections2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Elections2022</a></p>
— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1564251576197435394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Furthermore, Sweden is currently on 'high alert' as it fears increased interference in the election due to its altercations with Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin had shot a warning message to the Nordic country if it allowed NATo to set up military infrastructure in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“If Finland and Sweden wish to, they can join. That’s up to them. They can join whatever they want. However, if military contingents and military infrastructure were deployed there, we would be obliged to respond symmetrically and raise the same threats for those territories where threats have arisen for us." said Putin.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-energy-crisis-sweden-finland-step-in-to-avert-lehman-like-situation-512979"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Europe Energy Crisis | Sweden, Finland step in to avert Lehman-like situation</strong></a></p>

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<p>It has been documented well that Russia interfered in the 2016 US Presidential elections. At the time as well, a party and a leader that batted against immigrants were in the fray with an outside chance of winning. Russian interference made sure that Trump came to power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ruling class believes that Russia can do the same here. Consequently, the psychological defence agency has been re-activated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Scandinavian country of Sweden goes into polls on Sunday later this week to choose a new government. The ruling left-wing minority government of Social Democrats is up against the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats who find themselves on the centre-right and far-right end of the political spectrums, respectively.

The Scandinavian country of Sweden goes into polls on Sunday later this week to choose a new government. The ruling left-wing minority government of Social Democrats is up against the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats who find themselves on the centre-right and far-right end of the political spectrums, respectively. For decades, the Social Democrats have dominated the political landscape of Sweden. However, the equations are not so simple this time. Immigration has become a central theme in the elections and the far-right leaders have managed to sway the masses into their corner by dubbing the immigrants as the root cause of the problems, plaguing the western European country. With West Asia and Africa constantly in turmoil, refugees from countries like Syria and Libya have started to migrate in large swathes to Western Europe, especially in Germany, France, and Belgium. Sweden hasn't been left behind either. Sweden, which largely has been a peace-loving nation found itself in news for the rise of radical Islam. In 2020, the city of Malmo witnessed riots where radical Islamists went on a rampage and razed public property, destroyed police cars, and pelted stones on the law and order officers. Read more: Riot breaks out in southern Sweden after 'anti-Islam' actions Since then, the far-right parties have seized on the initiative and looked to corner the ruling political class for its pro-immigration stance. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats, time and again have brought up the neo-Nazi past of the Sweden Democrats. Sweden's first female Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who assumed the chair after Stefan Löfven lost a no-confidence motion last year in June has a tough task in hand. Andersson is a popular face but the rise of Sweden Democrats threatens her re-election bid. The Swedish general elections take place every four years to elect 349 members who sit in the Swedish parliament, also called the Riksdag. It is pertinent to note that alongside the parliamentary elections, regional and municipal elections are also taking place. Read more: One killed in Sweden mall shooting; suspect teenage boy arrested The voting has already begun as Swedish voters can vote in the Swedish embassies overseas. However, the turnout has been low so far. Sweden, national parliamentary election: Reported early voting turnout after five days of voting remains lower than in 2014 and 2018: 2022: 3.9% 2018: 4.9% 2014: 4.5% The election takes place on 11/09/22. Source: Swedish Election Authority#svpol #Sweden #Elections2022 — Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) August 29, 2022 × Furthermore, Sweden is currently on 'high alert' as it fears increased interference in the election due to its altercations with Russia. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin had shot a warning message to the Nordic country if it allowed NATo to set up military infrastructure in the country. “If Finland and Sweden wish to, they can join. That’s up to them. They can join whatever they want. However, if military contingents and military infrastructure were deployed there, we would be obliged to respond symmetrically and raise the same threats for those territories where threats have arisen for us." said Putin. WATCH | Europe Energy Crisis | Sweden, Finland step in to avert Lehman-like situation × It has been documented well that Russia interfered in the 2016 US Presidential elections. At the time as well, a party and a leader that batted against immigrants were in the fray with an outside chance of winning. Russian interference made sure that Trump came to power. The ruling class believes that Russia can do the same here. Consequently, the psychological defence agency has been re-activated. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

All you need to know about the Swedish parliamentary elections

<p>It seemed like a new era was dawning in Sweden on Wednesday when Magdalena Andersson, leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party, became the country’s first female prime minister.</p>

<p>Her historic term lasted about seven hours.</p>

<p>She resigned Thursday, a day after a painful budget defeat in Parliament. She had only just formed a two-party minority government with the Green Party. But after their budget was rejected in favor of one proposed by the opposition, which included the far-right Sweden Democrats party, the Green Party quit the coalition out of frustration. That left Andersson without a partner.</p>

<p>Her resignation plunged Sweden into political uncertainty. The country’s political landscape was already frayed by fragile coalition governments and a vote of no confidence in June against the former prime minister, Stefan Lofven. Andersson later succeeded Lofven as leader of the Social Democrats.</p>

<p>Sweden, at one point, accepted more refugees per capita than any other European nation. But its progressive image has gradually been eroded by far-right populist sentiment that has taken hold, led by the Sweden Democrats party. The political spectrum has shifted to the right, with increasing anti-immigrant and anti-European voices.</p>

<p>Andersson, 54, announced that she was the new prime minister in a Facebook statement a little before 10 a.m. local time Wednesday. A little after 4:30 p.m. the same day, she released a second Facebook statement announcing her resignation.</p>

<p>“According to constitutional practice, a coalition government should resign if one party leaves the government,” she said. “For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy.”</p>

<p>Per Bolund, a Green Party spokesperson, said his faction left the government because Parliament had approved a state budget negotiated by the Sweden Democrats. The party, with neo-Nazi roots and known for its anti-immigrant politics, has seen a steady rise in popularity over the last few years.</p>

<p>Until a new government is elected, the current one will remain on. Andersson, who served as Sweden’s finance minister since 2014, has said she is still ready to serve as prime minister, but only in a one-party government.</p>


It seemed like a new era was dawning in Sweden on Wednesday when Magdalena Andersson, leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party, became the country’s first female prime minister.

It seemed like a new era was dawning in Sweden on Wednesday when Magdalena Andersson, leader of the center-left Social Democratic Party, became the country’s first female prime minister. Her historic term lasted about seven hours. She resigned Thursday, a day after a painful budget defeat in Parliament. She had only just formed a two-party minority government with the Green Party. But after their budget was rejected in favor of one proposed by the opposition, which included the far-right Sweden Democrats party, the Green Party quit the coalition out of frustration. That left Andersson without a partner. Her resignation plunged Sweden into political uncertainty. The country’s political landscape was already frayed by fragile coalition governments and a vote of no confidence in June against the former prime minister, Stefan Lofven. Andersson later succeeded Lofven as leader of the Social Democrats. Sweden, at one point, accepted more refugees per capita than any other European nation. But its progressive image has gradually been eroded by far-right populist sentiment that has taken hold, led by the Sweden Democrats party. The political spectrum has shifted to the right, with increasing anti-immigrant and anti-European voices. Andersson, 54, announced that she was the new prime minister in a Facebook statement a little before 10 a.m. local time Wednesday. A little after 4:30 p.m. the same day, she released a second Facebook statement announcing her resignation. “According to constitutional practice, a coalition government should resign if one party leaves the government,” she said. “For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy.” Per Bolund, a Green Party spokesperson, said his faction left the government because Parliament had approved a state budget negotiated by the Sweden Democrats. The party, with neo-Nazi roots and known for its anti-immigrant politics, has seen a steady rise in popularity over the last few years. Until a new government is elected, the current one will remain on. Andersson, who served as Sweden’s finance minister since 2014, has said she is still ready to serve as prime minister, but only in a one-party government.

Sweden chose its first female prime minister. She lasted about 7 hours

Magdalena Andersson resigned from the position of the first female prime minister of Sweden after the collapse of the coalition with the Green Party. She had been newly elected and was the prime minister of the country for less than 12 hours.

Sweden's first female PM Magdalena Andersson quits after being appointed