Social Democrats fail to form Swedish government, parties to hold group chats to break deadlock
After the two biggest political parties, the Moderates and now the Social Democrats, have failed to gather enough support to form a government, the Speaker of Parliament has announced the unusual step of leading group meetings himself.
Radio Sweden’s Loukas Christodoulou analyses the situation.
Stefan Löfven, of the Social Democrat party, said on Monday morning that based on what the different parties have said to him, it was not possible for him to get the support he needs.
Löfven is currently leading a transitional government but hopes to also lead the new govenment after September’s election result. He had previously hoped to get support from the Center and Liberal parties, but they have said that they want him to be a supporter for the entire centre-right Alliance. Löfven repeated on Monday that he wants to remain as Prime Minister.
The leader of the biggest opposition party, Ulf Kristersson, has already tried and failed to form a potential government. Later on Monday, we will know who the Speaker has picked next to offer the chance to try to form a government.
The Riksdag is split after the election, with neither of the traditional left or right blocs big enough to form a majority, and with the Sweden Democrats big enough to vote down weak governments. Radio Sweden will have more on this later in the day after the speaker’s press conference at 16:30.
Related links from around the North:
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Finland: Finnish government survives confidence vote on bill weakening job security, Yle News
Russia: Regional government in northwestern Russia slashes budget by 5%, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Without a new coalition, could opposition parties force their budget on the Swedish government?, Radio Sweden
United States: Alaska Governor Walker drops re-election bid and backs Democratic candidate, Alaska Public Media
