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| Swedish election: PM says voting for anti-immigration SD is 'dangerous' | Swedish election: PM says voting for anti-immigration SD is 'dangerous' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has begun the final day of the general election campaign by warning about extremism and fascism. | Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has begun the final day of the general election campaign by warning about extremism and fascism. |
| Neither his centre-left Social Democrats nor the main centre-right party is likely to win a majority. | Neither his centre-left Social Democrats nor the main centre-right party is likely to win a majority. |
| The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) is expected to win around 20% of the vote, becoming the second biggest party in parliament. | The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) is expected to win around 20% of the vote, becoming the second biggest party in parliament. |
| Mr Lofven said an SD vote was "dangerous" and "counterproductive". | Mr Lofven said an SD vote was "dangerous" and "counterproductive". |
| He said it was "like trying to quench fire with alcohol", according to the Omni news site. | He said it was "like trying to quench fire with alcohol", according to the Omni news site. |
| Immigration has been a central issue of the election campaigns. | Immigration has been a central issue of the election campaigns. |
| The nationalist SD doubled its seats in the 2014 election and it is predicted to double them again on Sunday. | The nationalist SD doubled its seats in the 2014 election and it is predicted to double them again on Sunday. |
| On Friday, the SD said its leader, Jimmie Akesson, had received a letter threatening to behead him if he did not pull out of the election. | On Friday, the SD said its leader, Jimmie Akesson, had received a letter threatening to behead him if he did not pull out of the election. |
| It said the letter bore the flag of the Islamic State militant group. | It said the letter bore the flag of the Islamic State militant group. |
| Sweden's security and intelligence service is investigating, news agency AFP reported. | Sweden's security and intelligence service is investigating, news agency AFP reported. |
| Who are the Sweden Democrats? | Who are the Sweden Democrats? |
| The SD was linked for years to neo-Nazis and other far-right groups, only entering parliament in 2010. | The SD was linked for years to neo-Nazis and other far-right groups, only entering parliament in 2010. |
| It has been working to rebrand itself, changing its logo from a flaming torch (similar to the one used by the UK far-right National Front) to a blue-and-yellow daisy, the colours of the Swedish flag. | It has been working to rebrand itself, changing its logo from a flaming torch (similar to the one used by the UK far-right National Front) to a blue-and-yellow daisy, the colours of the Swedish flag. |
| Traditionally appealing to working-class men, it wants to attract more women and more educated and higher-income voters. | Traditionally appealing to working-class men, it wants to attract more women and more educated and higher-income voters. |
| Mr Akesson, who became leader in 2005, says there is zero tolerance towards racism in the party and several members have been expelled. | Mr Akesson, who became leader in 2005, says there is zero tolerance towards racism in the party and several members have been expelled. |
| However, the party has still been embroiled in various racism scandals. | However, the party has still been embroiled in various racism scandals. |
| One municipal candidate shared a song on Facebook with the lyrics "Swedes are white and the country is ours", according to a report in tabloid Aftonbladet. | One municipal candidate shared a song on Facebook with the lyrics "Swedes are white and the country is ours", according to a report in tabloid Aftonbladet. |
| Last year, some of its ex-members went on to found the far-right Alternative for Sweden (AfS). | Last year, some of its ex-members went on to found the far-right Alternative for Sweden (AfS). |
| What are the key issues? | What are the key issues? |
| Sweden's economy is booming but many voters are concerned that housing, healthcare and welfare services have come under pressure from a wave of immigration during the 2015 migrant crisis. | Sweden's economy is booming but many voters are concerned that housing, healthcare and welfare services have come under pressure from a wave of immigration during the 2015 migrant crisis. |
| That year Sweden took in a record 163,000 asylum seekers - the highest such intake in the EU, per head of population. | That year Sweden took in a record 163,000 asylum seekers - the highest such intake in the EU, per head of population. |
| Sweden's traditional parties have since hardened their tone to reflect concerns about integration. | Sweden's traditional parties have since hardened their tone to reflect concerns about integration. |
| Many voters are also concerned about violence. The SD links a rise in shootings to increased immigration, although official figures show no correlation. | Many voters are also concerned about violence. The SD links a rise in shootings to increased immigration, although official figures show no correlation. |
| The SD also wants to leave the European Union and has proposed a "Swexit" referendum. However, the powerful centrist parties all oppose such a vote, so it is unlikely to go ahead. | The SD also wants to leave the European Union and has proposed a "Swexit" referendum. However, the powerful centrist parties all oppose such a vote, so it is unlikely to go ahead. |
| Aside from immigration, climate change is an issue many Swedes care about - particularly after a long, hot summer and severe forest fires. | Aside from immigration, climate change is an issue many Swedes care about - particularly after a long, hot summer and severe forest fires. |
| During the heatwave, around 25,000 hectares of forest burned in wildfires and many farmers were forced to destroy livestock after their pasture land dried up. | During the heatwave, around 25,000 hectares of forest burned in wildfires and many farmers were forced to destroy livestock after their pasture land dried up. |
| Support for the Green party, which had been struggling after various internal scandals, has crept up across the country. | Support for the Green party, which had been struggling after various internal scandals, has crept up across the country. |
| The Left party is making gains too, from the environmentally concerned and from centre-left voters dissatisfied with the mainstream parties' approach to migration. | |
| Who is likely to be in charge? | Who is likely to be in charge? |
| Prime Minister Lofven currently heads a minority, centre-left coalition government made up of his Social Democrats and the Green Party. | Prime Minister Lofven currently heads a minority, centre-left coalition government made up of his Social Democrats and the Green Party. |
| In recent years there has been a fall in support for the Social Democrats and the largest traditional opposition party, the centre-right Moderates. | In recent years there has been a fall in support for the Social Democrats and the largest traditional opposition party, the centre-right Moderates. |
| However, the Social Democrats are likely to be the ones forming the next government. | However, the Social Democrats are likely to be the ones forming the next government. |
| Both parties have said they will not enter a coalition with the SD, however well they perform. | Both parties have said they will not enter a coalition with the SD, however well they perform. |