November 24, 2021
2 mins read

Sweden’s first female PM steps down hours after appointment

Andersson’s election followed an 11th-hour deal with the Left Party, which demanded a raise in pensions for around 7,00,000 of the poorest pensioners in return for not pressing the red button….reports Asian Lite News

 Shortly after Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson was elected by Parliament as Sweden’s first female Prime Minister, she tendered her resignation after facing the harsh reality of having to lead a minority coalition government.

Just hours after she was elected the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Parliament (Riksdag) passed the opposition’s budget proposal prompting Andersson’s coalition partner the Green Party to pull its support. This, in turn, forced Andersson to announce her resignation, reported Xinhua news agency.

Wednesday’s events were a result of the inconclusive outcome of the 2018 elections, which led to a lengthy process of finding a government in a political landscape where certain parties do everything in their power to block their ideological opponents from having any form of influence.

In comparison, the election of Andersson was a breeze. To be elected prime minister, she only needed a majority of lawmakers in the 349-seat Riksdag not voting against her. She was backed by 117 but rejected by 174, with 57 deputies abstaining. One deputy was absent.

Andersson’s election followed an 11th-hour deal with the Left Party, which demanded a raise in pensions for around 7,00,000 of the poorest pensioners in return for not pressing the red button.

However, later in the day the ruling coalition’s budget proposal was voted down in favour of the budget proposed jointly by the Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats and the Christian Democrats.

This came after the Center Party, which accepted Andersson as the prime minister in an attempt to shut out the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, decided not to vote for the government’s budget proposal, as they saw the deal as too sharp a turn to the Left despite the fact that the government had also made concessions to appease the Center Party.

Andersson, who since 2014 has served as the finance minister under former Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, said that she could lead the country with the opposition’s budget, describing it as requiring only minor tweaks. However, the Green Party had a different opinion.

After the Riksdag passed the opposition’s budget, the Greens announced that they would leave the government as they could not stand behind a budget negotiated by the Sweden Democrats.

The Riksdag will now have to elect a new prime minister. The Green Party has said they would support Andersson, who in turn said she was prepared to lead a single-party government.

ALSO READ: White House confirms Biden’s intention for 2024 run

Previous Story

India to activate working groups to benefit India-US trade ties

Next Story

India wants to be preferred textiles partner at Expo

Latest from -Top News

Afghan Food Crisis Worsens

Afghanistan continues to top the list of countries drawing global humanitarian concern following recent political changes…reports Asian Lite News The World Food Programme has sounded a fresh alarm over Afghanistan’s deepening humanitarian

Global Fury Over Trump’s Tariffs

Ramaphosa pushed back against the justification for the tariff, challenging the interpretation of trade data and pointing to discrepancies in the figures cited….reports Asian Lite News South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on

India Skips UNGA Vote, Flags LeT, JeM Threat

India Urges Global Action to Prevent Terror Groups from Exploiting Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News While abstaining from a UN General Assembly resolution on Afghanistan, India has urged the international community to ensure

BRICS Under India to Prioritise Climate, Health

Modi Sets Vision for India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency, Promising a ‘Humanity-First’ Agenda Focused on Climate Action and Global Health…reports Asian Lite News At the Rio 2025 BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Go toTop

Don't Miss

NATO to lay path for Ukraine reforms

Sullivan ruled out any immediate entry for Western-backed Ukraine, given

OIC slams EU leader’s statement on Israel

“It is also a betrayal to European citizens who do