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General elections will be held in Sweden on 13 September 2026 to elect the 349 members of the Riksdag. They in turn will elect the prime minister. In case of a snap election, the parliamentary term would not be reset and general elections would still be held in September 2026 together with regional and municipal elections. [1] [2]
The Riksdag is made up of 349 seats, and all are elected through open list, proportional representation on multi-member party lists. [3]
Of the 349 seats, 310 are elected within the 29 constituencies. The number of members per district ranges from 2 to 40. The remainder - the 39 other members - are apportioned nationally as levelling seats to ensure a proportional result. They are allocated to particular districts.
Were a party to win more constituencies than it is entitled to overall, a redistribution of constituency seats may occur to reduce the number of constituency seats won by that party. [4]
Sweden has the distinction of having elections on a fixed date with a parliamentary system in which early elections can be called. In the latter case, the newly elected legislature would serve the remainder of the four-year term begun by the previous legislature. Elections are organised on the second Sunday of September every four years, at the same time as the municipal and regional elections. [5] [6] [7]
Each of the 29 constituencies has a set number of parliamentarians that is divided through constituency results to ensure regional representation. The other members of parliament (MPs) are then elected through a proportional balancing, to ensure that the numbers of elected MPs for the various parties accurately represent the votes of the electorate. The Swedish constitution (Regeringsformen) 1 Ch. 4 § says that the Riksdag is responsible for taxation and making laws, and 1 Ch. 6 § says that the government is held responsible to the Riksdag. This means that Sweden has parliamentarism in a constitutional monarchy—ensuring that the government is responsible to the people's representatives. A minimum of 4% of the national vote, or alternatively 12% or more within a constituency, is required for a party to enter the Riksdag. Were the latter to occur, the party only gains representation within that constituency's seat share.
In Swedish elections, voters may openly pick up several party-specific ballots, and then, in the voting booth, use the ballot they choose.
The table below lists political parties represented in the Riksdag after the 2022 general election.
Abbr. | Name | Ideology | Political position | Leader | 2022 result | ||
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Votes (%) | Seats | ||||||
S | Swedish Social Democratic Party | Social democracy | Centre-left | Magdalena Andersson | 30.3% | 107 / 349 | |
SD | Sweden Democrats | Right-wing populism | Right-wing to far-right | Jimmie Åkesson | 20.5% | 73 / 349 | |
M | Moderate Party | Liberal conservatism | Centre-right | Ulf Kristersson | 19.1% | 68 / 349 | |
V | Left Party | Socialism | Left-wing | Nooshi Dadgostar | 6.8% | 24 / 349 | |
C | Centre Party | Liberalism | Centre to centre-right | Annie Lööf | 6.7% | 24 / 349 | |
KD | Christian Democrats | Christian democracy | Centre-right to right-wing | Ebba Busch | 5.3% | 19 / 349 | |
MP | Green Party | Green politics | Centre-left | Märta Stenevi Per Bolund | 5.1% | 18 / 349 | |
L | Liberals | Conservative liberalism | Centre-right | Johan Pehrson | 4.6% | 16 / 349 | |
Independent | 2 / 349 |
The Riksdag is the legislature and the supreme decision-making body of the Kingdom of Sweden. Since 1971, the Riksdag has been a unicameral legislature with 349 members, elected proportionally and serving, since 1994, fixed four-year terms. The 2022 Swedish general election is the most recent general election.
Elections in Sweden are held once every four years. At the highest level, all 349 members of Riksdag, the national parliament of Sweden, are elected in general elections. Elections to the 20 county councils and 290 municipal assemblies – all using almost the same electoral system – are held concurrently with the legislative elections on the second Sunday in September.
General elections were held in Sweden on 11 September 2022 to elect the 349 members of the Riksdag who in turn elected the Prime Minister of Sweden. Under the constitution, regional and municipal elections were also held on the same day. The preliminary results presented on 15 September showed the government parties lost their majority, which were confirmed by the final results published on 17 September. After a month of negotiations following the elections that led to the Tidö Agreement among the right-wing bloc, Moderate Party (M) leader Ulf Kristersson was elected prime minister on 17 October. The Kristersson cabinet is a minority government of the Moderates, Christian Democrats (KD) and Liberals (L) that relies on confidence and supply from the Sweden Democrats (SD).
Halland County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Halland. The constituency currently elects 10 of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 258,794 registered electors.
Malmö Municipality is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1994 from parts of Fyrstadskretsen following the reorganisation of the constituencies in Malmöhus County. It is conterminous with the municipality of Malmö. The constituency currently elects 10 of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 251,172 registered electors.
Blekinge County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Blekinge. The constituency currently elects five of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 121,789 registered electors.
Kronoberg County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Kronoberg. The constituency currently elects six of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 147,910 registered electors.
Jämtland County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Jämtland. The constituency currently elects four of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 101,363 registered electors.
Uppsala County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Uppsala. The constituency currently elects 12 of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 292,255 registered electors.
Västernorrland County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Västernorrland. The constituency currently elects eight of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 188,542 registered electors.
Gävleborg County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Gävleborg. The constituency currently elects nine of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 221,395 registered electors.
Västmanland County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Västmanland. The constituency currently elects eight of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 208,376 registered electors.
Västra Götaland County South is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established as Älvsborg County South in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It was renamed Västra Götaland County South in 1998 when the counties of Älvsborg, Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg were merged to create Västra Götaland. The constituency consists of the municipalities of Bollebygd, Borås, Herrljunga, Mark, Svenljunga, Tranemo, Ulricehamn and Vårgårda. The constituency currently elects seven of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 170,107 registered electors.
Västra Götaland County West is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established as Gothenburg and Bohus County in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It was renamed Bohus County in 1973. It was renamed Västra Götaland County West in 1998 when the counties of Älvsborg, Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg were merged to create Västra Götaland. The constituency currently consists of the municipalities of Ale, Alingsås, Härryda, Kungälv, Lerum, Lilla Edet, Mölndal, Öckerö, Partille, Stenungsund and Tjörn. The constituency currently elects 11 of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 285,927 registered electors.
Västra Götaland County North is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established as Älvsborg County North in 1970 when the Riksdag was changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It was renamed Västra Götaland County North in 1998 when the counties of Älvsborg, Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg were merged to create Västra Götaland. The constituency currently consists of the municipalities of Åmål, Bengtsfors, Dals-Ed, Färgelanda, Lysekil, Mellerud, Munkedal, Orust, Sotenäs, Strömstad, Tanum, Trollhättan, Uddevalla and Vänersborg. The constituency currently elects eight of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 208,144 registered electors.
Jönköping County is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It is conterminous with the county of Jönköping. The constituency currently elects 11 of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 271,666 registered electors.
Västra Götaland County East is one of the 29 multi-member constituencies of the Riksdag, the national legislature of Sweden. The constituency was established as Skaraborg County in 1970 when the Riksdag changed from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral legislature. It was renamed Västra Götaland County East in 1998 when the counties of Älvsborg, Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg were merged to create Västra Götaland. The constituency currently consists of the municipalities of Essunga, Falköping, Götene, Grästorp, Gullspång, Hjo, Karlsborg, Lidköping, Mariestad, Skara, Skövde, Tibro, Tidaholm, Töreboda and Vara. The constituency currently elects eight of the 349 members of the Riksdag using the open party-list proportional representation electoral system. At the 2022 general election it had 207,560 registered electors.
Members of Parliament in Sweden sit in the Riksdag.
Parliamentary elections will take place on 11 September. On this day voters will have the opportunity to decide which candidates will represent them in the Riksdag over the next four years. On the same day, there are elections to municipalities and regional councils.