The left-leaning Social Democrats defeated Sweden’s center-right government in Sweden’s Sunday general election while the far right noted historic gains.

Despite scandals, the right-wing anti-immigrant Swedish Democrats more than doubled their votes to 12.9%, becoming the country’s third-largest party – an enviable position that can influence the marginal government.

Social Democrats’ leader Stefan Loefven, a 57-year-old former trade journalist, is seeking to form a coalition government with the Greens or the former communist Left Party.

Outgoing Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (photo) and his four-party conservative-liberal alliance received 39.3% of the votes. Reinfeldt conceded defeat late Sunday. The 49-year-old added that he would resign as party leader on Monday.