New Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson resigns on the first day after the collapse of the Union
Magdalena Andersson resigned on Wednesday after less than 12 hours in office.
Sweden’s first female prime minister resigned on Wednesday after less than 12 hours in the top job after the Greens abandoned the coalition, plunging the country into political unrest.
But Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats, said she had told the speaker of parliament she hoped to be appointed again as head of a one-party government.
The Greens quit after parliament rejected the coalition’s budget bill.
Andersson told a news conference: “I have asked the speaker to be relieved of my prime ministerial duties. “I’m ready to be prime minister in a one-party, Social Democratic Party government.”
Andersson’s chance of being reappointed is very good. The Greens have said they will support her in any new confirmation vote in parliament, while the Center Party has promised to abstain, which in effect is the same as backing her candidacy. .
The Left Party has said they will support her.
While these parties cannot agree on a budget, they are united in their goal of keeping the Swedish Democratic Party, a populist, anti-immigration party, out of government.
“The Center Party will open the door for her (Andersson) to become prime minister,” its leader, Annie Loof, said on Twitter.
“Once again, we will make sure that Sweden can have a government that is not dependent on the Swedish Democratic Party.”
The moderate Opposition and the Christian Democrats are supported by the Swedish Democratic Party, but cannot command a majority in parliament.
Andersson took over as prime minister from Stefan Lofven as head of a two-minority coalition backed by the Left and Center parties. But that coalition collapsed when the Center Party refused to support the new government’s fiscal bill.
Parliament then passed spending plans on Wednesday drawn up by the three opposition parties, prompting the Greens to abandon the coalition and leaving Andersson with no choice but to resign.
The speaker of parliament will now decide on the next step in the search for a new government, but will most likely lead Andersson towards a new vote in the coming days.
