Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish Prime Minister, has declared his resignation following the defeat of the centre-right ruling coalition in a tight parliamentary vote. The last result resulted in a very slim majority for the centre-left opposition and the subsequent negotiations to choose Sweden next government.
The election date was 13 September, with the final results being announced once all votes, including those cast by post or sent in from abroad, had been counted. The four centre-left opposition parties gained 176 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag. The four parties backing Kristersson’s conservatives-led government won 173 seats. The difference is only three seats in the parliament.
Kristersson, the leader of the moderate party, has handed over his resignation to the speaker of parliament. He announced that the speaker will now lead the next steps in the process of forming a new government, and by doing so enables the beginning of formal negotiations among party leaders while the incumbent government continues to address the ongoing responsibilities of governance.
The Social Democrats, led by noted former prime minister Magdalena Andersson, were the biggest individual party. Andersson was Sweden’s prime minister from 20212022, and is now likely to run again after losing power four years earlier. But, the national vote share does not automatically make her prime minister. Sweden’s parliament must confirm a candidate via the normal procedure of the Riksdag:
A government may be difficult. The centre-left bloc really comprises several parties with very distinct policy priorities. Besides the Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Greens and the Centre Party are also part of it. They possess a majority of votes. Yet they are not united on every issue and even less so on the shape of a future cabinet.
The Centre Party, for example, has stated it does not wish to support a government giving ministerial jobs to the Left Party. The Left Party but has indicated a desire to be included in the government. Andersson must, through discussion and negotiation, devise a workable plan that can garner the support of parliament.
The poll was also a blow for the Sweden Democrats, the anti-immigration party which helped chair Kristersson’s coalition. The party gained around 17.5% and saw a decline compared to the poll in 2022. It also lost 11 parliamentary seats, the first setback in vote share for the party since the party entered the Riksdag in 2010.
The issues the campaign was over were immigration and crime, the welfare state, economic policy and the future course of Swedish society. A government led by Kristersson had prioritized tougher rules for immigration and tougher penalties for gang crime. The opposition campaign appears to have a prioritized more about welfare services, social policy, and a political switch. Its practical result will depend on what policies the parties agree to during the government negotiations.
