'No possibility' for Swedish leader to form government after narrow win
Magdalena Andersson spoke after Sweden's general election's voting results were released. (Reuters: Denis Balibouse)
Swedish Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson says she cannot form a government after her centre-left bloc won a narrow majority in last month's general election.
One of the bloc's three parties announced over the weekend it would back a parliament speaker candidate from the rival Moderate Party, which Ms Andersson says undercut her attempt to form government.
The speaker of parliament is expected to task another leader, likely the outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, with forming a new government.
Swedish Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson says she has failed to form a government with the three other parties in the left-wing bloc following the country's September 13 general election.
The centre-left won a narrow majority of 176 seats to the incumbent right bloc's 173 seats, in a vote widely seen as a referendum on outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's promise to form a coalition with the far-right Sweden Democrats.
The Left Party, one of the three which form the left-wing bloc, said over the weekend it would back a candidate for parliament speaker from the rival Moderate party, which Ms Andersson says undercut her attempt to build a government.
"Of course, I take the Left Party's message seriously, and based on that and the conversations I have had, I can conclude that there is currently no possibility for me to form a government," she told a press conference on Monday.
The speaker of parliament is expected to task another party leader, likely Mr Kristersson, with trying to form a new government.
Ulf Kristersson attended the Moderate Party election watch night. (Reuters: Christine Olsson/TT News Agency)
Mr Kristersson currently leads a caretaker government.
His right-wing bloc, which includes the far-right Sweden Democrats will struggle to find a majority in parliament.
He said following the loss that he was ready to explore options to find a majority among "non-socialist" parties.
He is seen as wanting to woo the Centre Party, which is now part of the left-wing bloc but used to belong to the right-wing, although it is staunchly opposed to a government which includes the extreme-right Sweden Democrats.
Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has refused to be a part of or support any government that gives influence to the parties on the far left or far right.
