Sweden hits obstacles in forming new government

Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson said on Monday, September 28, that there is currently no possibility of forming a new government, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.

The statement came after the Left Party announced on the evening of September 27 that it would support Andreas Norlén of the Moderate Party for the position of Speaker of the Riksdag. Norlén's candidacy is also backed by the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, and the Sweden Democrats. The Social Democrats have not yet put forward their own candidate for speaker.

Andersson takes the statement seriously

Andersson said she takes the Left Party's announcement seriously, and given that, along with the negotiations she has conducted so far, she can conclude that forming a new government is not currently possible. She said it would be appropriate for the coalition that reached agreement on electing the speaker to continue working and try to reach agreement on forming a government as well. She added that she believes the task of conducting preliminary negotiations should now be entrusted to one of those parties.

Election background

In Sweden's parliamentary election on September 13, four center-left parties secured a minimal majority of 176 out of 349 seats. Following that result, Andersson was offered the task of leading negotiations to form a new government, but the process has so far not produced a breakthrough.