Swedish Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson has been given another chance to try to form a government after initial coalition talks failed.
Speaker Andreas Norlen said Andersson should report back to him by Oct 12.
“On the basis of the conversations I have had, I have decided that Magdalena Andersson, the Social Democrats’ party leader, will be given the task of continuing to resume her exploratory assignment,” Norlen told a press conference.
In Sweden’s Sept 13 election, centre-left opposition parties won 176 seats in parliament, compared with 173 for outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing bloc, which includes the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
Coalition talks remain difficult
Norlen first tasked Andersson with starting government talks on Sept 18, but she gave up on Sept 28 after failing to unite the other three parties in her group due to deep ideological differences.
The main disagreement was between the socialist Left Party and the Centre Party.
There had been speculation that Norlen could instead give the task to Kristersson.
“We have four parties in our parliament with a majority and they have Magdalena Andersson as their number one prime minister candidate,” Norlen told AFP.
“So I think it’s reasonable that she can explore her options to form a government on her side of Swedish politics first and continue the task that I gave her some time ago,” he added.
Asked whether Kristersson could be given a chance if Andersson failed again, Norlen said “anything is possible”, but added that he wanted to see how Andersson’s attempt “plays out”.
Kristersson told media that it was “natural” for Andersson to be given another opportunity in view of the election result.
Formal process resumes on Oct 5
Norlen said Andersson’s assignment would formally begin on Oct 5, adding that he wanted to give the parties time to reflect before the process resumed.
Andersson welcomed the announcement in a social media statement.
“Over the weekend I will reflect on how I can move the process forward. I hope that other parties will also reconsider their positions,” she said.
Sweden has become accustomed to lengthy negotiations to form a government. Following the 2022 election, the process took 37 days, while it took 134 days after the 2018 election.
