Sweden yesterday (19 September) became the latest EU country to have its political establishment rocked by the electoral success of an anti-immigrant party. As polls closed, the ruling coalition had failed to win an overall majority, with the far-right Sweden Democrats holding the balance of power.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's four-party 'Alliance' coalition won the election with 49% of the vote, compared to 45% for the centre-left opposition bloc.

However, with 173 seats, the Alliance fell just short of an overall majority of 175, meaning Sweden has a hung parliament.

Instead, the story dominating the media coverage was the unprecedented success of the Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna), a party with a strong anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic rhetoric.

Led by 31-year-old Jimmy Åkesson, Sverigedemokraterna look set to win 20 seats, a remarkable breakthrough for a party that had never before won a mandate at national level.

Their success mirrors the rise of anti-immigrant parties elsewhere in Europe, and effectively means they hold the balance of power in the Riksdag.

Sweden has been among the most welcoming of European Union countries to immigrants seeking asylum or refugee status. It took in large numbers after the Balkan wars of the 1990s and was a favorite destination for Iraqis after the US invasion.

Immigrants account for 14% of Sweden's population, just above the 12.4% average for northern Europe, according to United Nations figures. Sverigedemokraterna want to curtail immigration and have vocally criticised Muslims and Islam as "un-Swedish".

Reinfeldt: What next?

The Swedish political establishment and mainstream media is abuzz with the question 'what happens next?'

Having previously said that he would not touch the Sweden Democrats with a bargepole, a tough decision confronts returning Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Though he has claimed in the past few weeks that he is prepared to lead a minority government, this option is viewed by many within the Alliance as an excessively weak option for the coalition. Instead, Reinfeldt may approach the opposition Green Party for a political deal.

Speaking on Swedish television, a jubilant Jimmy Åkesson denied that his party was racist, arguing that "we are not against immigrants, but against the failed immigration policy of successive Swedish governments".

He said his party "does not want to cause problems, but wants to take responsibility," adding that Sverigedemokraterna were willing to speak to any party but would only support the Alliance if their signature policy proposals on immigration and crime were adequately addressed.

Positions
European People's Party (EPP) group chairman Joseph Daul MEP congratulated Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on his election victory on Sunday, describing it as an "historic victory" for "a pluralistic and dynamic society" that would "no longer" be a Social Democratic one.

"Of course, we regret the election of a new xenophobic party to the Swedish parliament," Daul added, saying that it followed an "unfortunate trend" in European countries that "mainstream parties must oppose whilst examining the causes of this phenomenon".

Background
Sweden's parliament (Riksdagen) seats 349 MPs.

The incumbent centre-right 'Alliance' government is made up of the Moderate Party (97 seats), the Centre Party (29 seats), the Liberal People's Party (28 seats) and the Christian Democrats (24 seats). In the 2006 elections, the coalition's total seats numbered 178.

The main opposition bloc – the 'Red-Green' coalition – consists of the Social Democrats (130 seats), Left party (22 seats) and the Green Party (19 seats). Its total seats numbered 171.

The 'magic number' for forming a majority government is 175.