STOCKHOLM : Swede Electoral Test

After three years of cutting back Sweden’s legendary social welfare program, Prime Minister Carl Bildt leads his center-right coalition into national elections Sunday nursing only slim hopes of winning a new mandate to continue the job.

As campaigning entered its final days, polls showed the four government parties still trailing the opposition Social Democrats, although there were signs the gap was narrowing slightly.

The election race has also taken on an added dimension with unexpectedly strong gains by two far-left parties, who are urging Swedes to vote against European Union membership in a referendum next month.