Several thousand demonstrators took to the streets in Sweden late Monday in protest against the electoral breakthrough made by the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats - as incumbent Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt attempted to find parliamentary backing following the weekend's inconclusive election, according to dpa. Neither Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition nor the red-green opposition won an outright majority, partly because the hard-right Sweden Democrats seized 20 seats, entering parliament for the first time in Sunday's election. Following a spontaneous Facebook and internet appeal, several thousand Swedes took to the streets in a peaceful protest to show their opposition to the party, which polled 5.7 per cent. Pending final election results due Wednesday, Reinfeldt earlier told a news conference it was necessary for "all" parties to consider the outcome of Sunday's elections and the composition of the new parliament. Reinfeldt said he would use the "time apportioned" under the constitution until October 4 - when parliament reassembles - to discuss a government platform and what backing the government has. Reinfeldt's coalition won 49.3 per cent of the vote, based on figures from all 5,668 voting districts. The red-green opposition received 43.6 per cent. The far-right Sweden Democrats denied either bloc a majority by getting 5.7 per cent of the vote, and with it 20 seats. The results translate into 172 seats for Reinfeldt's coalition - three seats shy of a parliamentary majority - while the opposition Social Democratic, Green and Left parties secured 157 seats. Both coalitions have already declared that they do not intend to achieve a working majority by joining forces with the Sweden Democrats. Reinfeldt said he was to meet with his coalition partners later Monday but had not been in touch with the Green Party yet, but would "not negotiate via the media." Minority governments are not unusual in Sweden, but Reinfeldt acknowledged that the election outcome created "uncertainty." The premier said his coalition plans to remain in power since it won the most votes, and intends to approach the Green Party for support. The Greens two co-leaders Maria Wetterstrand and Peter Eriksson later told reporters that they had not been approached by the premier but in their view the other two parties in the red-green bloc should be included in talks. Wetterstrand added that Green voters "had not given a mandate to go into closer cooperation" with Reinfeldt's government, citing differences over welfare, climate and environmental issues. The Greens have become the third largest individual party in the legislature by scoring 7.2 cent of the vote, their best result since entering parliament in 1988. Reinfeldt's conservative Moderate Party and the Social Democrats were almost on par, with 30 per cent and 30.8 per cent of the vote respectively. The Social Democrats said they would conduct a comprehensive review of why the party had suffered at the polls. The Election Authority said final results are due to be released on Wednesday, following a recount. The preliminary figures showed voter turnout at 82 per cent, up from just over 80 per cent in the 2006 elections.
