Riksdag rejects Magdalena Andersson's bid to form government

Sweden's Riksdag rejected the attempt by Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson to form a minority government, prolonging uncertainty over who will head the government after last month's general election.

Four centre-left opposition parties that had signalled support for Andersson — and which on 13 September won a majority of seats in the Riksdag — remain unable to agree on which party or leader should take responsibility for forming a new administration.

Vote count and next steps

At September's election the opposition bloc secured 176 seats versus 173 for the right‑wing block led by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Today's vote in the Riksdag was the first of up to four rounds of voting; if no prime minister is confirmed after those rounds, new elections must be called.

Only the Social Democrats voted for Andersson in the ballot; the other parties present voted against her nomination. Observers expect the Speaker of the Riksdag to give Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party — the second‑largest party after the Social Democrats — the next mandate to try to form a government.

There are currently no signs that Kristersson can secure a majority. If his attempt fails, the task of forming a government could return to Andersson at a later stage.

"Since election night it was clear to me that it would take time and that probably several rounds of voting would be needed to appoint a prime minister," Andersson said to reporters after the parliamentary vote.

Photo: press material from the event