Sweden faces a potentially long wait for a new government as preliminary election results show a thin and still-uncertain lead for the left-leaning opposition, while a hard-right anti-immigration party saw its support slip.

The results could see either the centre left take back power or the far-right enter government for the first time.

Latest poll shows 0.3-point gap between left and right blocs, with country’s reputation as global champion of human rights said to be at stake