Swedish PM Kristersson resigns after election loss

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has resigned following his right-wing bloc's narrow defeat in the country's general election. According to preliminary results, the opposition led by Magdalena Andersson's Social Democrats appears poised to win 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament. Kristersson, a conservative, had relied on the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) to support his government, offering them cabinet positions if he won the election.

His right-wing coalition now holds 173 seats, while the opposition is expected to secure the majority. The formal certification of the results is expected to be completed this weekend. Following a prime minister's resignation, the Speaker of the Riksdag typically initiates negotiations with all parties to propose a candidate for the next leader, who will then be voted upon by the MPs.

Kristersson requested to be relieved of his duties to allow the process to commence immediately. The opposition parties, including the Left Party, Centre Party, and Green Party, are currently discussing the formation of a new government, although they may face challenges due to significant differences on key issues such as taxes.

The right-wing bloc consists of Kristersson's Moderates, the Sweden Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals. Founded by individuals with Nazi sympathies in the 1980s, the Sweden Democrats have undergone a rebranding effort in recent years, focusing on immigration and crime issues. The party managed to gain support from the current center-right coalition, which had tightened migration policies.

However, Kristersson's party experienced a decline in support for the first time since its inception in 2010, down three percentage points compared to the 2022 election. After the 2022 election, it took 37 days to form a government, while the process took 134 days in 2018.