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Swedes vote in general election

2010-09-19 08:52:11

Swedes are voting in parliamentary polls, with the centre-right coalition expected to win re-election.

The government is riding high in opinion polls against the Social Democrats and their allies, following tax cuts and a strong recovery.

The centre-left Social Democrats have ruled Sweden for 65 of the past 78 years, and are credited with setting up the country's generous welfare state.

A far-right party is tipped to win seats for the first time.

The prime minister said he did not want to speculate on how his Alliance for Sweden coalition would deal with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats if they get into parliament.

However, analysts warn a strong swing to the right could cost Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's Alliance for Sweden its majority.

Both main political blocs have said they would rather co-operate with each other than form a coalition with a party which they say is racist and xenophobic.

Mr Reinfeldt has urged Swedes to vote tactically in Sunday's election to keep out the far right.

BBC regional reporter Damien McGuinness says the Sweden Democrats appear to have tapped into voter dissatisfaction over immigration.

Immigrants make up 14% of the country's population of 9.4 million.

The largest immigrant group is from neighbouring Finland, followed by people from Iraq, the former Yugoslavia and Poland.