Sweden’s next vote for PM on 16th January
The next vote on who will become Sweden’s next prime minister will take place on the 16th of January, the speaker of parliament Andreas Norlén announced on Wednesday.
At a press briefing in parliament, Norlén said this is not the announcement he would have wanted to give.
“I regret this. I really would have wanted to end this process before Christmas. Sweden needs a new government,” he said.
But all the party leaders have over the past few days told him they did not think a vote at the end of this week would be fruitful.
As a way to put pressure on the parties, Norlén announced the time table for a possible forth vote, and also described all the steps he had taken to prepare for a new election.
If the vote on the 16th of January does not bring a prime minister, the next vote would take place a week later, on the 23rd of January. If no prime minsiter has been selected by then, a new election needs to be held within three months, which at the latest would be on Sunday the 21st of April.
“All party leader have a responsibility for the continued process, but the biggest responsibility rests on the two people who have said they want to become party leaders, Stefan Löfven [of the Social Democrats] and Ulf Kristersson [of the conservative Moderate Party],” Norlén said.
Related links from around the North:
Canada: New Inuit development association launches, wants to keep money in Northern Canada, CBC News
Finland: Finnish parties find consensus at cross-party climate summit, Yle News
Norway: Rebel region in Arctic Norway slams door on Oslo government, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Why does Sweden’s Centre Party oppose Stefan Löfven’s nomination as PM?, Radio Sweden
United States: Will Congress put off building an icebreaker to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border?, Alaska Public Media
