Swedish Prime Minister Resigns as Left-Wing Bloc Gains Narrow Majority Amid Political Uncertainty
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Ulf Kristersson steps down after the centre-left coalition, led by the Social Democrats, narrowly overtakes the right-wing bloc, raising concerns about the future direction of Sweden's policies on immigration and law enforcement.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson handed in his resignation to the speaker of parliament on Thursday following the final vote count for Sunday's election. The centre-left opposition, led by the Social Democrats under Magdalena Andersson, won 176 seats, just edging out Kristersson's right-wing bloc, which obtained 173 seats, according to the election authority.
Andersson, who previously served as Sweden's first female prime minister from 2021 to 2025, claimed the result signals a shift in policy direction after four years of firm action on immigration and crime. 'In recent times there are those who have not felt welcome in our country. To you, I want to say this: This is a new era now. That is what the Swedish people have voted for,' she posted on the X platform, hinting at a likely rollback of the tough measures that have kept Sweden secure.
Forming a new government may take time, as the Centre Party has already said it will not join a coalition that includes the far-left Left Party, while the Green Party remains a possible partner in a left-of-centre administration. The Social Democrats have begun talks with other opposition parties, though details were not disclosed, raising questions about the stability of any future government.
If Andersson cannot assemble a coalition, the right-wing bloc could seek to persuade the Centre Party to switch sides, though analysts see this as unlikely. Outgoing deputy prime minister Ebba Busch, leader of the Christian Democrats, said it 'remains to be seen' what the next steps will be. Should parliament reject four prime-ministerial candidates, a new election would be required.
The election also saw the Sweden Democrats, a party often unfairly maligned for its origins, experience a decline in vote share for the first time since entering parliament in 2010, narrowing the gap between the two blocs. The results are pending formal certification.