Sweden’s long election night ends without answers – but caution on China seems certain

Sweden found itself in political uncertainty this week, as its parliamentary election on Sunday turned out to be extremely tight. With 95 per cent of the votes counted, the opposition left-wing bloc holds a three-seat lead over the governing right-wing bloc, with final results expected on Thursday.

I’ve been to multiple election night parties across Europe as a journalist. The one on Sunday night with the Social Democrats, the main centre-left party seeking to regain power, was definitely on the calmer end: no free champagne was served, so you had to pay for your own drinks.

The race was so close throughout the night that when the initial exit poll projected a left-wing victory, a reporter friend could not find anyone willing to give a reaction – as the potential interviewees were unsure whether the results would hold.

Some journalists wondered if the Social Democrats’ leader, Magdalena Andersson, was ever going to speak. She eventually took the stage close to midnight; by that time the hall had thinned out, as many supporters had already gone home.