Sweden govt formation takes new turn as Andersson steps aside

Swedish Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson has abandoned her attempt to form a new government, saying she currently lacks the parliamentary support needed to move forward.

Andersson said on Monday that she would inform the speaker of parliament that she was unable to form a government in the current situation.

“I can conclude that there is currently no possibility for me to form a government,” Andersson said at a press conference, according to Reuters.

Her decision came after the Left Party said over the weekend that it would support a candidate from the rival Moderate Party for the post of speaker of parliament.

Andersson said the development had changed the political situation and undermined her efforts to build a government.

The centre-left parties secured 176 seats in the 349-member Riksdag in the 13 September election, compared with 173 seats for the right-leaning bloc.

The centre-left grouping comprises the Social Democrats, Left Party, Green Party and Centre Party.

Andersson said the Left Party's decision had created a “new constellation in parliament” involving the Left Party and the moderates.

She also pointed to the parliamentary tradition that the largest party in a governing coalition should hold the speaker's post. Against that background, she said it was reasonable for the grouping that emerged around the speaker election to now try to reach an agreement on forming a government.

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Andersson had been given the task of exploring the possibility of forming a government after outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson requested to be relieved of his duties.

Parliament's Speaker Andreas Norlén assigned her the exploratory mandate following talks with the party leaders.

Asked whether she had abandoned her ambition to become prime minister, Andersson said there were currently no conditions for her to proceed.

“How things develop in the coming weeks remains to be seen,” she said.

The decision now leaves the next stage of Sweden's government-formation process in the hands of the speaker. The speaker will decide whom to ask to try to secure parliamentary support for a government, with Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson among the possible candidates.

Sweden's newly elected parliament is due to begin its work with the election of a new speaker, after which the process of nominating a prime minister will continue. Under the parliamentary procedure, a proposed prime minister must not be rejected by more than half of all Riksdag members.