If the preliminary election results hold up, S leader Magdalena Andersson is expected to begin negotiations on a governing alliance with MP, C and V.
Those negotiations are going to be tough.
The most difficult question appears to be who should be part of a government. V has demanded ministerial posts in return for supporting an S-led government. C cannot accept V in such a government. The party that backs down risks a betrayal debate.
But a red-green governing alliance will also require substantive policy compromises in several other areas.
There are big differences between voters of the left-wing socialist Left Party and voters of the market-liberal Center Party, says electoral researcher Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson.
There will be various policy changes that will sting.
Nuclear power and qualifying deductions
S, V and MP all want to abolish or review the qualifying deduction. C does not want that, nor do those who have voted for the party.
According to SVT's exit poll, only 28 percent of C voters think it is a good proposal, compared with 81 percent of V voters.
A clear majority of MP voters are also positive about phasing out nuclear power in the long term, but this is only a minority among S and C voters.
Only 7 percent of MP voters think it would be good if Sweden accepted fewer refugees, which can be compared with 30 percent of S voters.
More than 80 percent of voters from S, V and MP think that profit distribution should be prohibited in tax-financed healthcare, schools or social care, while 58 percent of C voters think it is a good proposal.
Dadgostar: Keep us safe.
Even when it comes to taxes and benefits, there are differences in the parties' policies. C demands lower taxes for individuals and companies and has proposals to save eight billion kronor by reforming unemployment insurance.
S and V have campaigned to strengthen unemployment insurance. V also wants to make sickness benefit more generous.
In a speech shortly before the election, V leader Nooshi Dadgostar said:
Protect us from continued right-wing politics where the Center Party is given free rein to sell out our common welfare and reduce job security.
A lot of pressure will be put on S leader Magdalena Andersson, according to Ekengren Oscarsson. She will need both talent and humility so that the various parties can say that they lost a negotiation but won something else, he says.
It looks sprawling, and that will perhaps be the biggest challenge in this art of urban planning, says Ekengren Oscarsson.
Party voters' opinions on five substantive issues. Proportion of very good/fairly good among the parties' voters (percentage).
Introduce much harsher prison sentences for criminals
W: 42. S: 67. MP: 30. C: 62.
Accept fewer refugees in Sweden
W: 12. S: 30. MP: 7. C: 23.
Profit distribution should not be permitted in tax-financed healthcare, schools or social services.
V: 86. S: 81. MP: 88. C: 58.
Sweden should phase out nuclear power in the long term
W: 52. S: 35. MP: 65. C: 25.
Abolish the waiting day
V: 81. S: 66. MP: 66. C: 28.
Source: SVT's exit poll
