2021 Swedish government formation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Magdalena Andersson is elected Prime Minister
- Right-wing opposition's 2022 budget passes
- Greens leave the government
- Andersson resigns
- The Riksdag elects Andersson as Prime Minister again
- Andersson forms a new cabinet and takes office
| Date | 11 November 2021 – 30 November 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cause | Resignation of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven |
| Outcome |
|
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven tendered his resignation on 10 November 2021, leaving his government in place as a caretaker cabinet until a new prime minister is elected by the Riksdag. Government formation talks commenced the following day with Magdalena Andersson, the newly-elected head of the Social Democratic party offering to lead a government.[1] She was formally nominated to form a government by the Speaker of the Riksdag, Andreas Norlén later the same day.[2] It was the third government formation process since the 2018 general election, the first taking a record 144 days before the formation of Löfven's second cabinet. The process took place just ten months ahead of the 2022 general election.
Andersson was elected Prime Minister the first time on 24 November and was expected to have appointed the ministers of her government by 26 November. The same day, however, the government-authored budget was voted down in the Riksdag, with the right-wing opposition's proposal passing instead. This led to the Green Party leaving the government cooperation and Magdalena Andersson resigning as Prime Minister before taking office. She was elected a second time on 29 November and her government was officially formed the day after.[3]
Formation talks
The table below lists parties' representation in the Riksdag as of the last election in 2018.
 | ||||
| Name | Leader | Seats | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Swedish Social Democratic Party Socialdemokraterna |
Magdalena Andersson | 100 | |
| M | Moderate Party Moderaterna |
Ulf Kristersson | 70 | |
| SD | Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna |
Jimmie Åkesson | 62 | |
| C | Centre Party Centerpartiet |
Annie Lööf | 31 | |
| V | Left Party Vänsterpartiet |
Nooshi Dadgostar | 28 | |
| KD | Christian Democrats Kristdemokraterna |
Ebba Busch | 22 | |
| L | Liberals Liberalerna |
Nyamko Sabuni | 20 | |
| MP | Green Party Miljöpartiet |
Per Bolund Märta Stenevi |
16 | |
In the 2018 Swedish general election, no political group or party won an outright majority, resulting in a hung parliament.[4][5][6] The Red-Greens, led by Stefan Löfven's Social Democrats (S) held 144 seats in the Riksdag, while the former centre-right Alliance led by Ulf Kristersson's Moderate Party held 143. The right-wing populist party Sweden Democrats, led by Jimmie Åkesson, came in third. As a result, protracted negotiations were required before a new government could be formed. On 18 January 2019, Löfven was re-elected as prime minister thanks to the Centre Party and Liberals (with passive support from the Left Party) on the condition that Löfven's government enact reforms stipulated in the January Agreement between the two liberal parties and the Social Democrats.
The leader of the opposition, Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson does not find a right-wing government led by himself feasible, but his party will vote against a Social Democratic-led government. As will the Christian Democrats and the Sweden Democrats.[7]
A recent change in policy within the Liberals to support only a right-wing government alternative, even one that relies on the support of the Sweden Democrats, rules out the possibility of Liberal support for Andersson.[8] The only possibilities for cooperation for the Social Democrats and Greens lie with the Centre and Left parties.[9] Support from both parties would be required in order to elect Andersson and pass a budget.
Annie Lööf, the leader of the Centre Party, has already expressed her party's willingness to tolerate a government led by Andersson.[10]
Nooshi Dadgostar of the Left Party has demanded negotiations regarding increased pensions before tolerating an Andersson-led government.[7] While talks with the Left are on-going, media speculations suggest that the Social Democrats might not be able to appease both the socialist Left and the liberal Centre Party's demands without losing the support of either.[11]
On 22 November, Norlén officially nominated Andersson as prime minister, with a confirmation vote scheduled for two days later.[12] On the evening of 23 November, the day before the vote on Andersson, the intended coalition parties of an Andersson-led government Social Democrats and Green Party struck a deal with the Left Party to increase the lower limit of the guaranteed pension for the unemployed. The new rules are expected to start in September 2022, if the proposal is approved by the Riksdag. The deal also resulted in a statement that the Left Party will act confidence and supply to the potential new government and support their budget.[13]
First Riksdag vote
In the Riksdag, as long as the Speaker's proposal for a new prime minister is not opposed by half of its members, the proposal is carried.[14] Andersson was elected with only a slim minority voting against her (174 'no' votes out of 349 members). This makes her the first female prime minister in Swedish history. One member of the Riksdag from the Left Party was absent during the vote.[15]
Budget vote
Following the agreement between the Left Party and Andersson, the Centre Party announced that they would not be supporting the government's budget proposal at the budget vote on 24 November. As expected, the government-authored budget proposal was voted down in the Riksdag. The 2022 budget will be based on the joint proposal of the right-wing opposition parties; the Moderates, Sweden Democrats and the Christian Democrats.[17] Andersson has stated that she would be willing to govern despite an Opposition-authored budget. Unwilling to help implement policy negotiated by the Sweden Democrats,[18] the Green Party announced that they would leave the government cooperation shortly after the budget vote.[19] With the Greens no longer a part of Andersson's proposed coalition, a new vote to elect a Prime Minister would likely have to be held.[20]
The Opposition's budget proposal is a modified version of the government's that includes lower taxes for working people and retirees, lower fuel taxes, increased salaries for police employees and the cutting of the government's proposed funding for a family week, forest protection and housing subsidies.[21]
Andersson's resignation
After losing the support of the Green Party in government, Andersson asked to resign her post as prime minister, just seven hours after being elected and before taking office. Stefan Löfven will remain in office until a replacement can take office.[23]
On the evening of 24 November, the Green Party, the Left Party and the Centre Party have all publicly said they will abstain from voting against a single-party Andersson cabinet, in a potential upcoming vote in the Riksdag. Together with the support of independent parliament member Amineh Kakabaveh, Andersson was re-elected Prime Minister. A proposal is approved as long as less than half of the parliament members vote against it.
Second Riksdag vote
Andersson was finally elected on 29 November with 101 voting yes, 75 abstaining and 173 voting no; of the 349 total.