Sweden’s first female Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson resigns, a few hours after she was elected by the Riksdag.
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– I fully understand that this appears to be very messy, Andersson said when she met the press late Wednesday afternoon.
The background for the dramatic departure was that the Social Democrats’ coalition partner the Green Party left the minority government. It happened shortly after the Riksdag voted down the new government’s budget – the same day that Andersson was approved as the new prime minister.
Instead, the Riksdag approved the budget proposal from the opposition parties Moderaterna (M), Kristdemokraterna (KD) and Sverigedemokraterna (SD).
The Green Party made it clear that they will not continue to govern on a budget negotiated with the Sweden Democrats and therefore left the governing coalition.
Constitutional practice
Andersson then stated that she had asked the Speaker of the Riksdag, the Speaker, to release her from her task as Prime Minister.
However, she stressed that she is willing to return as leader of the Social Democratic minority government.
– According to constitutional practice, a coalition government should resign when one of the parties leaves it, Andersson said at a press conference.
– I do not want to lead a government whose legitimacy is questioned, she added.
Approved
The Speaker Andreas Norlén stated shortly after he had received and approved Andersson’s resignation application.
The plan was for Andersson’s government to formally take office on Friday. Norlén will now contact the party leaders to discuss the situation and has announced a briefing on the way forward on Thursday.
Until such a government sees the light of day, former Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will serve as interim prime minister.
According to Andersson, the Green Party still wants her to lead the country’s next government.
– But I fully understand that this appears to be very messy, she said on Wednesday.
Knapp margin
Earlier Wednesday, Andersson was approved as Sweden’s 34th prime minister by the narrowest possible margin after the Left Party agreed to give passive support to her in exchange for the minimum pension being increased by 1,000 kroner a month.
The Center Party’s leader Annie Lööf then claimed that the Left Party had gained too much influence and therefore refused to support the government’s state budget.
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