Sweden set for closest election in decades

The Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, has cast his ballot ahead of Sunday’s main vote in what promises to be one of the closest general elections in the country in decades. His Social Democrats are trailing an alliance of centre-right parties in the latest opinion polls. But their lead is slim and with the battle for votes going right down to the wire analysts say it could go either way. Unemployment and the future of the welfare system are the main debating points. Persson says the policies of his opponents, led by Fredrik Reinfeldt, will create wider divisions in Swedish society. They say tax and benefits cuts are what is needed to reduce unemployment. Persson has led the country for the past ten years. Experts say a low turnout could bring his time in office to an end.

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