How the Swedish parliament works
Sweden's national parliament is called the Riksdag. It is the country's highest decision-making body and elects the Prime Minister.
349
Seats in the Riksdag
4%
National vote threshold to enter parliament
4 yrs
Length of a parliamentary term
Seats and the 4% threshold
All 349 seats are filled by proportional representation. To win seats nationally a party must clear a 4% threshold of the national vote (or 12% in a single constituency). Parties below the threshold get no seats, even with significant support.
Who can vote
To vote in the national (Riksdag) election you must be a Swedish citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and registered as a resident in Sweden at some point. Residents who are not Swedish citizens cannot vote in the national election, but may be eligible to vote in regional and municipal elections held the same day.
Forming a government
After the election, the Speaker of the Riksdag nominates a candidate for Prime Minister. The candidate is approved unless an absolute majority (175 MPs) votes against — a government only needs to be tolerated by parliament, not actively supported by a majority. This is why coalition and support agreements between blocs matter so much in Swedish politics.