Sweden's 2026 parliamentary election remained too close to call, with only about 20,000 votes separating the left- and right-wing blocs in the latest forecast by public broadcaster SVT.
The Social Democrats, Green Party, Left Party and Centre Party are projected to win a combined 175 seats in the 349-seat parliament, compared with 174 seats for the Moderate Party, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals.
The razor-thin margin means the balance between the blocs could still change as votes continue to be counted.
According to an exit poll published on Sunday evening, the Social Democrats, Green Party, Left Party, and Centre Party secured a combined 51.3% of the votes, compared with 46.8% for the Moderate Party, Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Sweden Democrats.
The Social Democrats remain the largest party in the exit poll, receiving 27.6%, although this represents a decline from the 30.3% they won in the 2022 parliamentary election.
The Moderates are projected to finish second with 19.8%, narrowly ahead of the Sweden Democrats, who received 17.2%.
In 2022, the Sweden Democrats won 17.7%, while the Moderates received 19.1%.
The Left Party is projected to become Sweden's fourth-largest party with 8.2%, up from 6.8% in 2022.
The Centre Party also appears to have gained ground, reaching 7.2%, compared with 6.7% in 2022.
The Christian Democrats are projected to receive 6.2%, up from 5.3% four years ago.
The Liberals, meanwhile, stand at 5.4%, comfortably above Sweden's 4% parliamentary threshold.
The exit poll is not the final election result, and the balance between the blocs could change as votes are counted.
Late early votes and ballots cast from abroad are expected to be counted Wednesday or Thursday.
'Make Sweden Great Again'
Outgoing prime minister Kristersson meanwhile vowed to focus on improving Swedes' everyday lives now that his government's clampdown on organised crime and immigration was starting to show results.
Deadly shootings and bombings by organised crime networks have fallen sharply in recent years, while asylum applications are at a record low.
"We want to use our new and far better preconditions to improve the lives of ordinary people... to make Sweden great again," Kristersson told AFP before the vote, borrowing US President Donald Trump's trademark slogan.
Over the past two decades, far-right leader Jimmie Akesson has steered the party with neo-Nazi roots into the mainstream.
"Sweden is becoming safer, better, and more Swedish," Akesson told a campaign rally on Saturday, surrounded by blue-and-yellow "Make Sweden Sweden Again" posters.
At a polling station on Sunday, store manager Linda Eriksson, 48, said she hoped for a change of government.
"Hopefully a lot of people will realise that we have to change course... so that everyone will feel included in society," she said.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg had urged voters to "vote out Tido", referring to the right-wing government's alliance with the far-right.
"No fascists in our government. Climate justice now!" she wrote on Instagram.
