World

Sweden faces political deadlock after failing to form new govt

Sweden's Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson gives a press conference in Stockholm. — AFP
 
Sweden's Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson gives a press conference in Stockholm. — AFP

STOCKHOLM: Attempts to form a new government in Sweden hit the buffers on Monday after Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson said she was unable to secure enough support, despite the centre-left bloc winning a narrow majority in this month's ⁠election. 'I can conclude that there is currently no possibility for me to form a ⁠government,' Andersson said at a press conference, saying she had lost the support of Sweden's Left Party. The speaker of Sweden's parliament is now likely to turn to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to see if he ‌can form a government. Kristersson's Moderates are the next ​biggest party after the Social ⁠Democrats.
Andersson said she had given up trying ‌to form a government after the Left Party, one of the parties she needed to form ​a majority, said it would support a candidate from the centre-right as speaker of parliament. The ​Left ‌Party ⁠has said previously it will only support Andersson as prime minister. Andersson would likely get another shot at trying to form a government if any centre-right attempt fails. The speaker can put four ​candidates forward to parliament for approval, but if each is rejected, Sweden ⁠will hold ​a new election. — Reuters