Shortly after lunchtime, it became clear that the opposition would win the election with 176 seats against the Tidö parties' 173.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) announced shortly afterwards that he was resigning. Inside the Social Democrats' office at Sveavägen 68, it was celebrated with cake.
Speaker Andreas Norlén will begin talks with the other party leaders on Friday about who should be nominated as the next prime minister.
Andersson: "A new era"
S leader Magdalena Andersson says in a film on social media, called "Andersson's victory speech", that the Swedish people have voted to take Sweden in a new direction, one that ensures growth is accelerated, unemployment is reduced and emissions are reduced.
I understand that many are wondering what will happen in the near future, and now parliamentary work will begin, just as it is regulated in our constitution, she says.
She wants to lead Sweden in a new spirit of cooperation, away from conflicts for the sake of conflict, she says.
In a direction built on unity and community, and I want to see a new era of cooperation between the political parties.
Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar comments that this is one of the proudest days of her life. "The Swedish people have voted out Tidö and given us a clear mandate for change," she writes to TT.
"We are now clearly the second largest party in a new majority."
C: Government anchored in the center
At the same time, C leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist thanks Ulf Kristersson for his leadership in a transformative time.
"Sweden is now entering a new political phase. The Center Party will be a constructive force for Sweden to have a functioning government with policies anchored in the middle."
The Social Democrats have, in a first step, invited the other red-green parties C, V and MP to a meeting.
But V does not want to enter into talks unless they involve all four parties forming a government. At the same time, C has a red line against governing with V.
We need to sit down and carve out the direction for a red-green government, says MP's party secretary Katrin Wissing.
According to MP, the invitation concerns a meeting about forming a coalition in the Riksdag and has been sent to the party group leaders. She does not want to say when the meeting will take place. It is unclear whether any more meetings are planned between the party leaders.
Wissing now reiterates that “all four parties are needed” in a government.
We see ourselves as an obvious part of a red-green government, she says.
Corrected version: The Green Party backs down from what the party secretary stated in an interview, that it is Magdalena Andersson who invited the other party leaders and the spokespeople in the opposition. According to MP, it is correct that S invited a meeting to form a coalition in the Riksdag, an invitation that went to the group leaders.
Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson is expected to be tasked with forming a government. But it's a difficult puzzle to put together. Here are some of the challenges.
Who should be included?
V has demanded ministerial posts to support an S-led government. C cannot accept V in such a government. The party that backs down risks a betrayal debate.
The qualifying deduction
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.
Nuclear power
A clear majority of MP voters are in favor of phasing out nuclear power in the long term, only a minority from S and C.
Taxes
Even when it comes to taxes and subsidies, there are differences in the parties' policies. C demands lower taxes for people and companies and has proposed saving eight billion kronor by reforming the unemployment fund. V and MP have demanded taxes for the really rich - a so-called billionaires' tax.
Refugees
Only 7 percent from MP think it would be good if Sweden accepted fewer refugees, which can be compared with 30 percent from S.
