SWEDEN SWIRLS

Prime minister and party leader of the Social Democrat party Stefan Löfven
waves at an election party in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. 

SWEDEN'S GENERAL ELECTIONS over the weekend have sparked much debate in European circles. Not so much because the country now faces a hung parliament.

But due to the emergence of the far-right Swedish Democrats as a Kingmaker in determining the final outcome of a coalition government.

Indeed, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has called on the opposition to do the needful in terms of ''cross-bloc cooperation''. In other words, moves are afoot to try and side-line the Swedish Democrats.

As far as numbers go, the later secured just 17.6 percent of ballots and 63 seats in the 349-seat Parliament, putting it in third place overall. Yet this was up from 12.9 percent and 49 seas back in 2014.

In fact, this represents the largest parliamentary gain of any party. The centre-left coalition led by the  Social Democrats and the centre-right alliance led by the Moderates won around 40 percent of the vote each; or 144 and 142 seats, respectively.

So what does this mean for the traditionally liberal country of just 10 million?

A handful of pundits have pooh-poohed the idea that the results reflect a broader pattern of the far-right being on Europe.

Instead, they talk of the decline of traditional major parties giving way to new and increasing smaller political frameworks as well as the fragmentation of the national vote.

They also point to the ''Dutchfication'' of European politics. Some 28 parties contested elections in The Netherlands last year.