Andersson abandons first bid to form Sweden’s government

Magdalena Andersson abandoned her first attempt to form Sweden’s next government on Monday, blaming the Left Party’s decision to back a Moderate speaker.

The Social Democrat leader said she would return the mandate that Andreas Norlén gave her on 18 September. “There is currently no possibility for me to form a government,” she told a press conference, SVT reported.

Andersson accused the Left Party and the Moderates of forming a new parliamentary alliance by backing Norlén for speaker. She challenged them to try to agree on a government too.

The Left Party rejected that account. Its leader, Nooshi Dadgostar, denied joining a new bloc with the Moderates and said Norlén offered experience. Deputy leader Ida Gabrielsson called Andersson’s decision hasty and said her party would support only Andersson for prime minister.

Andersson left open the possibility that the position could change in the coming weeks.

Ulf Kristersson and his ministers continue to run Sweden as a caretaker government, handling routine and urgent business until a successor takes office.

The speaker must now decide how to take the talks forward. Under parliamentary rules, a nominee for prime minister needs to avoid 175 votes against them in the 349-seat Riksdag. Returning an exploratory mandate does not use up one of the four parliamentary votes allowed before an extra election.

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