Sweden opposition's narrow lead as 99% districts counted

Sweden's centre-left opposition parties maintained a narrow election lead over the incumbent right-wing governing bloc as the counting of remaining ballots resumed after Sunday's vote for parliament.

With less than 1% of districts left to count this afternoon, parties led by opposition leader Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats looked set to win 176 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag, signalling a change of government.

The right-wing governing bloc of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, which includes the far-right Sweden Democrats, was meanwhile on track to win 173 seats, data from Sweden's election authority showed.

But the count remained tight, and the left's lead briefly moved to within a single-seat majority before bouncing back as more votes were accounted for.

The agency is now counting late incoming ballots from home and overseas, and has said this process may go on until tomorrow before all votes are accounted for.

The election, while unlikely to change the course of Sweden's pro-Western and pro-Ukraine stance, could decide whether Mr Kristersson's push toward a hard-right clampdown on migration continues or even accelerates.

In a pre-election pledge, Mr Kristersson broke a longstanding taboo and said he would bring the Sweden Democrats into government, a far-right party, as he aims to create a majority-right coalition.

Many voters on the right say a win would amount to an endorsement of policies that have helped to curb gang violence and cut immigration dramatically.