SWEDEN – PM Kristersson Resigns After Election Defeat

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 17 /ATSH-DPA/ – Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has announced his resignation following preliminary parliamentary election results, which confirmed the victory of the left-wing opposition.

Kristersson handed his letter of resignation to the speaker of parliament.

In his statement, he said the election result has made forming a new government more complicated.

According to him, the various pre-election statements by political parties could make building possible coalitions more difficult.

Kristersson called for “constructive openness” from all parties.

He stressed that talks must now be held with all political forces to find solutions and create the conditions for a stable and functional government.

The preliminary results were confirmed today after the last postal votes were counted.

The final result is expected to be announced over the weekend.

The four parties backing the Social Democrats and former prime minister Magdalena Andersson secured 176 of 349 parliamentary seats, taking a narrow majority.

The Social Democrats emerged as the largest party, with around 28% of the vote.

Forming the new government will now depend on negotiations conducted under the parliament speaker’s leadership.

Kristersson’s outgoing government consisted of the Moderate Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.

Together with the right-wing Sweden Democrats, that camp secured 173 seats.