Sweden’s Magdalena Andersson ends government-formation talks with no result

Sweden's newly-elected Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson declared on Monday that she currently lacks the ability to form a government, highlighting the challenges of coalition-building in the nation's fragmented parliament following the recent election. Andersson handed back her mandate to attempt the formation of a government following the Left Party's decision to support a centre-right candidate for the position of parliament speaker in a vote later that same day.

This move does not automatically rule out Andersson's potential future role as prime minister, as she might have another opportunity if her political opponents also fail to form a coalition. The latest turn of events could present an opportunity for the current caretaker Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who has been leading Sweden since October 2022.

Kristersson, who leads the Moderates party, has indicated his intention to incorporate the far-right Sweden Democrats into his bloc, which has 173 seats in parliament. In contrast, the centre-left holds 176 seats, meaning Kristersson would need to persuade the Centre Party to align with him for the formation of a majority government.

The Centre Party has expressed a preference for Andersson as prime minister, but has also stated that they will not support a government that includes the Left Party. The Left Party, in response, has affirmed that they will not back a government that does not include their members. Andersson reiterated that the Left Party's decision to collaborate with the Moderates is an incorrect interpretation of their stance.

She stated that the next step would be to assess whether this new partnership can result in the establishment of a government. According to Sweden's political system, a prime minister does not require the backing of a majority of lawmakers but must ensure that the majority of parliamentarians do not actively oppose them. If there are four unsuccessful parliamentary votes on a new prime minister, a new election must be called.

The Left Party leader, Nooshi Dadgostar, criticized Andersson's assertion, stating that she is mistaken in believing that her party has partnered with the Moderates. She told Swedish newspaper Expressen that the centre-right candidate for speaker, Andreas Norlén, should be granted a third term in the role due to his experience and his record of overseeing prior government formation discussions "with dignity". Norlén is a member of Kristersson's Moderate Party and has served as Speaker since 2018.