Six upsets emerge in Sweden’s local elections

Several unexpected results have emerged in Sweden’s 2026 local elections, SVT reports. A party that began as an angry Facebook group became the largest party in Gislaved, while Hallstahammar could face a historic change in power.

“People are tired of 105 years of Social Democratic rule,” said Joakim Fredriksson, the Moderates’ leading candidate in Hallstahammar.

The election was closely contested at local level as well. The Sweden Democrats appear to have lost 12 percentage points in Klippan in Skåne, while the Social Democrats’ vote in Kramfors in Ångermanland was cut in half.

“I feel empty and sad,” said Malin Svanholm of the Social Democrats.

SVT has selected six unexpected developments from municipalities across the country.