Andersson abandons Sweden government bid after Left Party defection
Andersson cannot form a government after her coalition partner backs a rival's speaker.
Magdalena Andersson's centre-left bloc won Sweden's September election. They gained 176 seats to the right's 173.
This narrow majority should have given them governing power. Over the weekend, the Left Party made an announcement.
They would support a parliament speaker from the rival Moderate Party. Andersson says this broke her ability to build a coalition.
The parliament speaker will now ask another leader to form a government. That leader will likely be outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Kristersson's right-wing bloc needs support from the Sweden Democrats. This is an anti-immigration party with far-right roots.
It has moved toward mainstream politics. The Centre Party used to sit on the right.
It recently joined the left. Now it rules out any government that gives power to extremists on either side.
- 176
- Left bloc seats
- 173
- Right bloc seats
- September 13
- Election date
Why it mattersSweden now faces an unstable period. Neither bloc can govern easily. This forces negotiations that could shift the country's direction on immigration and economic policy.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but political gridlock in European democracies can affect trade and security partnerships Australia relies on.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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