Swedish PM Kristersson resigns after election loss

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced his resignation on Thursday afternoon after his ruling right‑wing bloc was narrowly defeated by the centre‑left opposition in the national election. He made the statement via a station connected to X, citing preliminary votes from Sunday's predetermination that showed roughly 50,000 votes separating the two blocs in an electorate of about 10 cardinal people. Opposition parties led by Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats are positioned to secure 176 seats in the 349‑seat Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament. Kristersson, a conservative, had governed with the support of the anti‑immigration hard‑right Sweden Democrats (SD), to whom he had promised ministerial posts should he win the election. According to data from the Swedish Election Authority, his right‑wing coalition is projected to capture 173 seats in the Riksdag. The results remain subject to formal certification in the coming days and are expected to be finalised this weekend. Swedish politics features two major blocs—four parties on the right and four on the left—so the electorate is accustomed to coalition and minority administrations. Andersson has opened discussions with the other bloc parties—the Left Party, the Centre Party and the Green Party—regarding the formation of a government. However, negotiations could stall owing to substantial disagreements between the parties on matters such as taxation. After the 2022 election, it took 37 days to establish a government, whereas the 2018 vote required 134 days before a governing agreement was reached.