Swedish elections: Anti-immigration party takes the lead in the right bloc

Anti-immigration Sweden Democrats emerged as the leading party of the right wing bloc in Swedish elections on Sunday as it received 20.6% of the counted votes, replacing Moderate Party that had been previously the leading conservative party.

While Sweden Democrats is expected to have 73 seats in the Swedish Parliament, the Moderate Party who received 19% of the counted votes will likely get 67.

With 95% of the votes counted, the right wing bloc was on 49.7% late Monday, while four parties on the left, including the incumbent Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Green Party, stood at 49%.

Early results gave right wing bloc 175 of the 349 seats in the Swedish Parliament, one more than the left bloc.

Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson is likely to become prime minister in a minority government supported by the Sweden Democrats who will have a big say on the new administration's programme, Reuters said, citing political observers.

Swedish Social Democratic Party saw a moderate rise in votes, emerging as the first party in the election with 30.5%, and is likely to have 108 seats in the parliament.

While the Left Party suffered a decline and will have 24 seats (four less than the previous elections), the Green Party is expected to have 18 seats with 5%.