Nervous liberals can finally relax. The party has cleared the hurdle to the EU election and gains – with nearly all districts counted – 4.4 per cent of the votes.
A huge sense of relief filled the Liberal Party's election watch when the preliminary results were announced. After an election campaign filled with gloomy opinion polls, L advances compared to the previous election.
With the majority of electoral districts reported, the party has 4.4 per cent of the votes. To compare with the election five years ago, when L just managed to get into the EU parliament on 4.1 per cent.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari says it was "very nerve-wracking" during the evening, which was marked by nervousness.
Party leader Johan Pehrson looks ahead:
The first name on the list for L is Karin Karlsbro, sitting MEP. She has been challenged by Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, who needs to gather crosses to have a chance to overtake Karlsbro.
Party Secretary Jakob Olofsgård says the party has "won a victory tonight".