Swedish PM Resigns After Election Defeat

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will resign following the country’s parliamentary election defeat. He announced this on Thursday, after the final vote count.

The center-left opposition parties won 176 seats in Sunday’s parliamentary vote, while Kristersson’s right-wing governing bloc secured 173 seats.

“It is now the speaker of parliament who will lead the next phase toward a new government. On this occasion I ask to be relieved of the duties of prime minister to allow this work to begin immediately,” Kristersson said in a letter posted on the X social network.

The election result paves the way for a change of government, with Social Democratic party leader Magdalena Andersson expected to return as prime minister after four years in opposition.

All votes for the 349-seat parliament have been counted, although the result remains subject to official certification in the coming days.

For the center-left, the victory may be only the first step in a long process to form a government.