Andersson faces mounting pressure after PM vote defeat

Magdalena Andersson’s defeat in the first prime ministerial vote was expected, but it was symbolically damaging after she declared herself the election winner and celebrated with cake at her party’s headquarters, SVT political commentator Mats Knutson writes. The vote brought Sweden a step closer to a snap election.

Andersson’s main obstacle remains the conflicting demands of the Left Party and the Centre Party over the formation of a government. Neither has shown signs of backing down. The Centre Party’s willingness to accept a Social Democratic minority government appears mainly intended to signal that it prioritises policy over ministerial positions. It may also make it easier for the Left Party to accept being left out of government if the Centre Party and the Green Party are also outside it.

But that arrangement may be unrealistic. Both the Left Party and the Green Party have congress decisions requiring them to support only governments they are part of. A Social Democratic minority government could also be unstable, having to negotiate with parties on both the right and left to pass its policies. Gains for the Left Party and the Green Party could be seen as setbacks by the Centre Party.

The divisions reflect the Centre Party’s significant policy differences with the other red-green parties. Their main common ground is opposition to giving the Sweden Democrats political influence, Knutson writes.

Andersson may have some time to work through the impasse if the Speaker gives Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, the task of exploring whether he can form a government. His prospects are currently considered slim because the Tidö parties do not hold a majority in parliament. As leader of the second-largest party, however, Kristersson could reasonably be given the assignment before the process returns to Andersson.

The Speaker has four attempts, through prime ministerial votes, to find a new prime minister. If all fail, a snap election is automatically called.