The European parliament election campaign in Sweden was unlike any other in its history, characterised by several scandals and conflicts amongst individual candidates – both within and between the major parties. The elections in Sweden – as elsewhere – were also an ideological struggle between parties calling for more or less EU integration. But perhaps surprisingly, the green wave witnessed in other countries around Europe didn’t hit Sweden.
Swedish voters largely opted for parties who called for the EU to have less influence. Compared to 2014, the results of the election rewarded centre-right parties who expressed soft Euroscepticism – seeking EU reform while remaining firmly in favour of continued membership.
By contrast, parties in favour of EU integration gained little support. The Liberals, Sweden’s most pro-EU party, lost 5.8 per cent of their vote and were only a few thousand votes away from not gaining a single seat.
The centre-left Social Democrats, who currently lead a minority government with the Green party, also had a miserable time.
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