Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has been tasked with forming a new government in Sweden after the opposition leader Ulf Kristersson announced that he was unable to gather a majority.
Löfven received the assignment from the Speaker of the Swedish parliament (Riksdag) Andreas Norlén on Thursday morning. Just two hours earlier, the Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson announced that he was giving up on forming a government due to a lack of parliamentary support.
Löfven has until Monday, but with the possibility of extension. He needs 175 votes in the Riksdag to be able to form a new government.
Kristersson had until Friday but chose to give up the attempt after only two days.
If Löfven fails, Norlén stated that he might nominate Kristersson as prime ministerial candidate again and then hold a vote in the Riksdag even though Kristersson thinks he will not get enough support.
Difficult situation
On Wednesday, one of the Löfven government ministers resigned to return to his seat in the Riksdag. Former Minister of Rural Affairs Jennie Nilsson can thus secure Löfven a decisive vote.
On Monday this week, Löfven announced that he was resigning. That led to Norlén asking various party leaders to see whether there is a parliamentary basis for a new government.
The parliamentary situation in Sweden has been difficult since the election in 2018, and Löfven’s government has been dependent on support from both the Liberals, the Center Party, and the Left Party. At the time, it took four months before Löfven had gathered enough support to form a minority government.
This time, Norlén has said that he wants a faster process.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]
Leave a comment