Magdalena Andersson, leader of Sweden's center-left Social Democratic Party, announced on Monday that her efforts to form a four-party government have failed, leaving the country in political deadlock more than two weeks after a closely contested election. The breakdown opens the door for the outgoing right-wing bloc to attempt to stay in power despite losing the popular vote.

Andersson had been negotiating to unite the Social Democrats, the Greens, the Center Party, and the Left Party, which together secured 176 of the 349 seats in parliament. However, talks foundered on deep divisions between the centrist Center Party and the socialist Left Party. "Based on the discussions I have had, I can conclude that, as things currently stand, it is not possible for me to form a government," Andersson told reporters.

The four-party bloc won 176 seats in the September 13 election, compared to 173 for the outgoing right-wing alliance, with a popular vote difference of around 50,000. The speaker of parliament is now expected to ask another party leader to try to form a government, with outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the center-right Moderate Party the likely next choice. Kristersson continues to lead a caretaker government.

His bloc, which includes the far-right Sweden Democrats, has also failed to secure a majority and would probably need support from the Center Party. However, Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has ruled out supporting a government that gives influence to either the Sweden Democrats or the Left Party. Protracted government formation is not unusual in Sweden: it took 37 days to establish a government after the 2022 election and 134 days after the 2018 vote.

Source: www.dw.com