Sweden election result on knife-edge

STOCKHOLM (AA) - Sweden’s right-wing parties had a razor-thin lead over the governing center-left coalition in Sunday's general election after the latest count on Monday.

With 95% percent of the ballots counted, right-wing coalition headed by center-right Moderates secured 175 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag, Sweden's parliament, preliminary results showed.

The center-left bloc led by the Social Democrats, meanwhile, had 174. The alliance is headed by Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

The Social Democrats, in power since 2014, were the largest party in the parliamentary elections with 30.5% of the votes.

The far-right Swedish Democrats came second with 20.6% of the votes, while the Moderates had the support of 19.1%, meaning they are now the third-largest party in the Nordic country.

Moderates party leader Ulf Kristersson said he was ready to do everything to "create a new, stable and capable government for the whole of Sweden and all citizens."

Andersson, who became Sweden’s first female prime minister less than a year ago, said "support for us has increased and it is clear that Swedish social democracy is strong.”

Final election results are expected on Wednesday. If the results are confirmed, the right-wing group of parties will secure a parliamentary majority, paving the way for a transfer of power.