The election will be Sweden’s first since the government in 2015 allowed 163,000 migrants into the country of 10 million. While far less than what Germany took in that year, it was the most per capita of any European nation.

The comments by the co-leader of the far-right nationalist Alternative for Germany party drew swift condemnation from mainstream politicians and outrage on social media.

The two candidates facing a May 7 runoff offer starkly different visions of France's future.