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| Sweden votes in close-fought poll | Sweden votes in close-fought poll |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Millions of Swedes have been voting in the country's closest-fought general election in decades. | |
| A centre-right coalition is challenging the governing Social Democratic party, which has been in power for all but 10 of the past 89 years. | A centre-right coalition is challenging the governing Social Democratic party, which has been in power for all but 10 of the past 89 years. |
| Key issues include whether Sweden's generous welfare model must reform for it to survive in the global economy. | Key issues include whether Sweden's generous welfare model must reform for it to survive in the global economy. |
| Exit polls suggested a close result, with the opposition holding a narrow lead over the Social Democrats. | |
| Polls closed at 2000 local time (1800 GMT) and a preliminary result was expected within hours. | |
| Exit polls for the national public channel SVT predicted the centre-right coalition would win 49.7% of the vote, compared to 45.6% for Prime Minister Goran Persson's coalition led by the Social Democrats. | |
| But the TV4 channel put the centre-right's lead at 48.6% to 46.7% - a gap smaller than the poll's margin of error. | |
| Opinion polls have put the centre-right alliance, headed by the conservative Moderate party, consistently neck-and-neck with the Social Democrats. | |
| The latest poll, published before voting began, put the challengers a few points ahead. | The latest poll, published before voting began, put the challengers a few points ahead. |
| Trading accusations | Trading accusations |
| Both leaders have admitted the result is expected to be extremely tight. | Both leaders have admitted the result is expected to be extremely tight. |
| "If you want to use swimming terminology, we are going to be the ones who touch the finish a few hundredths of a second before the opposition," Mr Persson said on Saturday. | "If you want to use swimming terminology, we are going to be the ones who touch the finish a few hundredths of a second before the opposition," Mr Persson said on Saturday. |
| Moderate candidate Fredrik Reinfeldt says reform is overdueHis rival for the prime minister's job, Fredrik Reinfeldt, urged supporters to turn out and vote: "Don't believe the opinion polls. Persuade neighbours and friends to go vote." | Moderate candidate Fredrik Reinfeldt says reform is overdueHis rival for the prime minister's job, Fredrik Reinfeldt, urged supporters to turn out and vote: "Don't believe the opinion polls. Persuade neighbours and friends to go vote." |
| The opposition says changes to Sweden's rigid labour market and high cost welfare system are long overdue, and promises to cut both employer taxes and unemployment benefits. | The opposition says changes to Sweden's rigid labour market and high cost welfare system are long overdue, and promises to cut both employer taxes and unemployment benefits. |
| It also wants to cut the large social sector, which currently employs 30% of the Swedish job force. | It also wants to cut the large social sector, which currently employs 30% of the Swedish job force. |
| Mr Reinfeldt, the Moderate leader, has accused the government of disregarding the high unemployment rate, and for not making sure the country can continue to compete in a global market. | Mr Reinfeldt, the Moderate leader, has accused the government of disregarding the high unemployment rate, and for not making sure the country can continue to compete in a global market. |
| The government maintains the unemployment rate is a low 6%, while the opposition says it is around 10%, taking into account the many people on sick leave and in job training schemes. | The government maintains the unemployment rate is a low 6%, while the opposition says it is around 10%, taking into account the many people on sick leave and in job training schemes. |
| Mr Persson has accused the opposition of wanting to destroy job security and make dangerous cuts to the welfare state. | Mr Persson has accused the opposition of wanting to destroy job security and make dangerous cuts to the welfare state. |
| He said this would undermine Sweden's unique social model - a cradle to grave welfare system and strong economic growth. | He said this would undermine Sweden's unique social model - a cradle to grave welfare system and strong economic growth. |