Friday, September 18, 2026 - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has resigned after a narrow election defeat left his right-wing bloc without a parliamentary majority.
The final count showed the centre-left opposition, led by Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson, winning 176 of the 349 seats in the Riksdag, compared with 173 seats for the parties supporting Kristersson's government.
Kristersson submitted his resignation to the parliament speaker on Thursday, opening the next stage of negotiations over Sweden's government.
Andersson, who previously served as Sweden's first female prime minister, now faces the challenge of building a functioning government from a closely divided parliament. The Social Democrats emerged as the largest single party with 99 seats, but disagreements within the opposition could complicate coalition talks.
The Centre Party has said it will not join a government that includes the Left Party, while the Greens are also potential partners in a new centre-left administration.
The election has created an immediate political transition in Sweden, but the final shape of the next government remains uncertain. The parliament speaker will consult party leaders before proposing a candidate for prime minister, and the Riksdag can vote on a new prime minister from September 29 at the earliest.
Kristersson and his ministers will remain in office until a new government is formed, keeping attention firmly on the negotiations that will determine Sweden's political direction in the weeks ahead.
0 Comments