Attempts to form a new government in Sweden have stalled after Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson said she had been unable to secure enough support, despite the centre-left bloc winning a narrow majority in this month’s election.
“I have come to the conclusion that, at present, I do not have the possibility of forming a government,” Andersson said at a press conference after losing the support of Sweden’s Left Party.
The Speaker of the Swedish parliament will now likely turn to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to see whether he can form a government. Speaker Andreas Norlén told reporters that he would meet individually with all party leaders on Wednesday before announcing whom he would ask to make the next attempt at forming a government.
In the September 13 general election, the centre-left opposition won 176 seats in parliament, narrowly ahead of the centre-right bloc’s 173 seats.
The setback came as support for the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats declined, running counter to the rise of the far right across Europe.
