Far-right Sweden Democrats poised to wield influence in new government

Leader of centre-right Moderates formally asked to try to form coalition that could include anti-migrant populists

The leader of Sweden's third largest party - the centre-right Moderates - has been formally asked to try to form a government that could include the far-right, populist Sweden Democrats, either inside a governing coalition or outside to secure a majority.

In Sweden's election on 11 September, the country's four centre-right and far-right parties won 176 seats, while the centre-left coalition that includes the ruling Social Democrats got 173 seats. Andreas Norlen, the speaker of the 349-seat Swedish parliament, the Riksdagen, has asked Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the Moderates, to see if he can form a governing coalition.