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Stefan Lofven, leader of the Social Democratic Party, on the right, addresses his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store during a rally in the center of Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday, 8 September 2018. The Swedish political candidates in a general election should give historical gains to an anti-immigrant far-right party. (Jessica Gow / TT via AP) (Associated Press)
STOCKHOLM – Sweden went to the polls on Sunday in a general election that is expected to be one of the most unpredictable and exciting races in the Scandinavian country in decades of heated debate over immigration .
Sunday's election will be the first in Sweden since the government authorized in 2015 163,000 migrants in the country. Although much less than Germany took that year, it was the highest per capita of all European nations.
About 7.5 million registered voters choose from nearly 6,300 candidates for a four-year term in the 349-seat Riksdag (parliament).
It is very unlikely that a party will win a majority of 175 seats.
The latest poll by Novus pollster for public broadcaster SVT suggested Friday that Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's ruling Social Democrats would lose substantial seats, but would still be ahead with 24.9% of the vote.
The poll showed that Sweden's far-right anti-immigration Democrats – led by Jimmie Akesson – would get 19.1% of the vote, a major increase over the 13% recorded in the 2014 elections.
The evening of center-right moderates should take third place with 17.7%.
With the growing popularity of Swedish Democrats, immigration has become the hot topic of elections.
The party, rooted in a neo-Nazi movement, strove to soften its image, played a role in removing long-standing taboos on what Swedes could say openly about immigration and integration without being racist.
In a heated debate on Friday night by party leaders, Akesson caused a stir by accusing migrants of the difficulties they often encounter in finding a job.
At the party rally on Saturday, he strongly criticized the Lofven government for "giving priority" to the asylum seekers' cause.
"This government we had now. During these four years, they have given priority to asylum seekers, "said Mr. Akesson.
"Sweden needs respite, we need strict and responsible immigration policies".
Mohamed Nuur, a Social Democratic candidate of Somali origin, told The Associated Press that he saw Akesson bringing Sweden back into the past.
"For me, Sweden that it (Jimmie Akesson) wants to see … it's not our future," said Nuur. "It's to go back in history. For me, when he says that immigrants are not welcome in Sweden, he tries to spread hatred between people. In fact, it is the immigrants who built this country. "
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