Mainstream Swedish parties say they would consider alliances with each other after a September election to prevent the far-right from becoming a kingmaker after the vote.
Recent polls show the ruling centre-right Alliance just ahead of the left parties with less than 100 days to go to the national vote, but neither grouping has enough support to establish a clear majority in parliament.
Polls show the right-wing Swedish Democrats would clear the 4 per cent support hurdle needed to win a seat for the first time, potentially casting them in kingmaker role after the September 19th vote.
Neither mainstream bloc is willing to join forces with the Swedish Democrats, a party modelled after France’s National Front which has been confined to the extreme fringe of Sweden’s political scene for most of its 22-year history.
In the event of a hung parliament, the Red-Green opposition would try to get the Liberal or Centre parties – both part of the current government – to support them, a spokeswoman for the Green Party said.
Agneta Borjesson said her party had not discussed co-operating with the Moderate Party, led by prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
The Moderate Party, the largest in the four-party alliance that makes up Sweden’s government, would seek support from the Greens if it was to win the election, but found itself unable to form a majority government.