Why the far right lost: 11 lessons for Europe from Sweden’s election

STOCKHOLM — As far-right leader Jimmie Åkesson danced beside the pink balaclava-wearing singer Miss Smut at his final campaign rally, he hoped a late surge in the polls would carry his Sweden Democrats into power. But the following day’s election instead delivered a rude shock to Sweden’s anti-immigration vanguard: A loss of vote share, support and influence for the first time since the SD was founded by neo-Nazis in the 1980s. The left bloc narrowly won the contest and will now seek to form a government that doesn’t include any right-wing parties. Amid reports of recriminations within the SD, Åkesson may take time away from frontline politics, but insists he won’t resign.