Swedish Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson said on Monday, September 28, that she cannot form a government under the current circumstances, despite a narrow majority for her side in this month’s election. She said she would inform the speaker of parliament of her conclusion, according to Reuters. The announcement leaves Sweden’s post-election government negotiations unresolved.
The four opposition parties won 176 of the Riksdag’s 349 seats in the September 13 election, against 173 for the parties that formed or supported the outgoing government, according to the Associated Press. Speaker Andreas Norlén asked Andersson on September 18 to explore whether she could assemble a government that parliament would tolerate, the Riksdag said.
Andersson linked the setback to the Left Party’s decision over the weekend to support a candidate from the rival Moderate Party for speaker. She said that decision, together with her discussions with other parties, meant there was currently no path to forming a government, Reuters reported. Her statement concerned the present negotiations and did not declare that all future talks had ended.
The opposition’s seat advantage has not erased disagreements over who could join a cabinet. The Centre Party opposes entering government with the Left Party, although both are counted among the four parties that won a combined majority, AP reported. Their competing positions have made an agreement under Andersson more difficult even after the election result was confirmed.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson resigned after the final count, but his ministers remain in office as a caretaker government until a replacement is installed, according to Sweden’s government. The government says a caretaker administration chiefly handles ongoing or urgent business. Andersson’s announcement therefore does not by itself install a new prime minister or end the existing interim arrangement.
The speaker must decide how to continue the search for a candidate who can survive a parliamentary vote. Reuters said Kristersson could be asked to try. Under the Riksdag’s rules, a nominee is approved unless more than half of lawmakers vote against; after four unsuccessful proposals, an extraordinary election must be held. The next steps will show whether the parties can bridge their differences or prolong the deadlock.
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