Parliament rejects conservative leader Kristersson’s nomination as Swedish PM

Radio Sweden
Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 10:26 — Last Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 10:32
0 Comments

The leader of Sweden’s conservative Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson takes part in a Parliament session on November 14, 2018 in Stockholm. – Kristersson failed in a bid to form a government as parliament rejected his nomination as prime minister, after elections produced political deadlock. Lawmakers voted 195 to 154 against the speaker’s nomination of Ulf Kristersson to head a government comprising his Moderates party and the Christian Democrats. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images)

The Moderate Party leader lost a vote in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, today and failed to become Prime Minister.

Ulf Kristersson was the leading member of the entire centre-right Alliance before September’s election and their candidate for prime minister – but now half of the Alliance parties seemed to have voted him down.

Sweden Democrats support a key issue

The Liberal and Centre parties want to avoid the Sweden Democrats, who they see as far-right extremists, having influence over a government.

On Tuesday the leader of the Sweden Democrats stated he expected that he would indeed have influence over a Kristersson government, but the Moderate Party says this is not the case.

The vote was 195 against Kristersson, well above the 175 needed to stop a prime minister candidate.

After Wednesday’s vote the Speaker of the Riksdag will hold a press conference. It is his responsibility to propose a new candidate for prime minister.