Sweden votes as migration, crime and economy dominate high-stakes election

Swedes head to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes general election. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s center-right coalition is currently trailing the center-left Social Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The campaign has been dominated by concerns over gang violence, Islamist extremism, unemployment, and the strain on public services. Foreign policy expert Daniel Schatz told Fox News that the debate over whether integration has kept pace with immigration has intensified. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who have historically been ostracized, are now in a position to potentially secure cabinet posts if Kristersson’s coalition wins. Under leader Jimmie Åkesson, the party has sought to move toward the political mainstream by moderating its rhetoric and distancing itself from its extremist origins. Once described as a humanitarian superpower, Sweden is now grappling with economic strain and a rising homicide rate. According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, the country's homicide rate is significantly higher than the European average. While gun violence has seen a decline this year compared to previous peaks, immigration remains a central electoral issue. Following the 2015 influx of asylum seekers, Sweden has progressively tightened its borders and asylum policies. Nicholas Aylott, a professor at Södertörn University, noted that the perceived link between immigration and crime has fundamentally shifted Swedish politics, forcing other parties to adapt their platforms to address voter concerns regarding law and order.