MALMO, Sweden – The traditional Swedish custom of ‘election cottages’—small campaign booths dotting public squares—is currently active in Malmo, the nation’s third-largest city. As residents prepare for Sunday’s vote, national polls indicate a razor-thin margin between the centre-left opposition bloc led by the Social Democrats and the right-wing coalition, with the gap narrowing over the past month.
In a symbolic display of political polarization, representatives from the Left Party and the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) have set up campaign stands merely a metre apart in the central square. Migration remains the defining issue in this diverse metropolis, where more than a third of the 368,000 residents were born abroad. For right-wing parties, Malmo serves as a cautionary tale of unchecked immigration, while international figures such as former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage have previously used the city to fuel anti-immigration rhetoric, labeling it inaccurately as a hub of criminality.
Inside Malmo’s town hall, Anfal Mahdi, a Left Party councillor whose family fled Iraq, criticized right-wing politicians for overlooking socioeconomic struggles in areas constructed during Sweden’s ‘Million Programme’ housing initiative between 1965 and 1974. Originally designed for working-class Swedes, these districts later became home to migrant and refugee populations as original residents moved out, gradually evolving into segregated suburbs.
Mahdi emphasized that despite welfare cuts following the economic crisis of the early 1990s, these communities fostered strong social bonds. ‘We leaned on each other,’ she said, recalling friendships with peers from Bosnia, Palestine, and Somalia. She noted that current voter concerns are better described as ‘wallet politics,’ focusing on healthcare access and unemployment, which stands at approximately 11 percent—among the highest rates in Sweden.
The area of Rosengard, home to football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is officially classified by police as a ‘particularly vulnerable area.’ However, local residents like Adam, a 20-year-old florist, reject negative stereotypes. He argued that young people in these neighborhoods are primarily concerned with the cost of living and finding employment rather than the political narratives imposed upon them.
Political dynamics are shifting, with some young voters moving toward the right. Jacob, 19, observed that the Sweden Democrats, which has neo-Nazi roots and currently polls as the second-largest party, is gaining traction among youth. If the right-wing bloc secures victory, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has promised cabinet positions, including control over migration policy.
For Sara, a Palestinian-Swedish woman in her twenties, the current political climate feels divisive. She expressed concern that anti-immigration and anti-Islam rhetoric suggests some politicians desire expulsion rather than integration. This sentiment is reflected in recent government policies, such as the order for teenagers raised in Sweden to leave upon turning 18 while their parents remain, a rule temporarily paused after public outcry in March and revised in June.
Compounding these anxieties are high-profile deportation cases, such as that of eight-month-old Emanuel, who was ordered to be deported alone to Iran in February while his family retained residency permits. Additionally, rising salary thresholds for work permits, increased to 90 percent of the median wage in June, have led to deportation orders for families like that of Binto Drammeh, whose uncle was forced to leave due to income requirements.
Crime and gang violence also feature prominently in the election discourse. Sweden continues to grapple with some of Europe’s highest rates of gun violence, with criminal networks reportedly recruiting children as young as 12 for drug trafficking and weapon transport. Political parties remain divided on solutions: the right favors punitive measures, while the left and centre-left prioritize rehabilitation and addressing root socioeconomic causes.
Youth engagement appears heightened, largely driven by social media. Jacob noted that TikTok has become a central platform for political outreach, with party accounts gaining significant traction. However, uncertainty persists regarding the impact of votes due to Sweden’s consensus-based bloc system. Adam admitted he has not yet decided whom to support, reflecting a broader sentiment among some young voters that electoral outcomes may not lead to meaningful change despite their interest in politics.
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