Sweden faces hung parliament as far right makes gains

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has invited the opposition to talks aimed at a "cross-bloc cooperation", after his left-wing party failed to gain a majority in Sunday's elections that saw anti-immigrant party making gains.

The ruling Social Democrats remained the biggest party with 40.6 percent of votes, marginally ahead of the centre-right Alliance, which garnered 40.3 percent in the polls, results showed after most votes were counted on Monday Sep 10,2018

That gave the centre-left 144 seats in the 349-seat parliament against 142 for the Alliance, suggesting weeks of uncertainty before a workable government can be formed.

The SD, a party with roots in the neo-Nazi movement, won 17.6 percent and 63 seats, up from 12.9 percent and 49 seats in the last election four years ago, the biggest gain by any party in Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag.

Turnout in the election was reported at 84.4 percent, up from 83 percent in 2014.

Prime Minister Lofven, who brought the Social Democrats to power in 2014, said he intended to remain in the job.

Sunday Sep 09,2018 's general election was the first since the country of 10 million took in a record 163,000 refugees in 2015 as mass migration to Europe rose dramatically.

The SD, which wants Sweden to leave the European Union and freeze immigration, hopes it can play a decisive role in negotiations over forming a government.

Sweden has been known for its comparatively open doors to migrants and refugees