Stockholm, September 13 (QNA) - Voters in Sweden head to the polls today for parliamentary elections featuring a close race between the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the opposition led by the Social Democratic Party.
The latest opinion polls show a slight lead for the center-left opposition, after the gap between the two camps narrowed during the final weeks of the election campaign.
Three polls published shortly before the vote showed opposition parties collectively garnering between 49.3% and 50.8% of support, compared to 47.6% to 49% for the right-wing bloc, reflecting a very close electoral race.
Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democratic Party and former Prime Minister, seeks to return to the premiership, while Kristersson hopes to win a second term.
Kristersson had pledged to include the Sweden Democrats in the government should his bloc win, after the party had spent the past four years supporting the government in parliament without participating in the cabinet.
Issues such as immigration, combating gang violence, and economic and social policies have been featured in the election campaign, amidst differing party stances on how to address them.
Andersson may face challenges in forming a stable government, if her camp wins the election, due to disagreements among opposition parties over a number of issues, including immigration, taxes, and nuclear energy. (QNA)