Sweden: Kristersson given another week to form a government

Mandate extension and negotiations

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has been given an additional week to attempt to form a new government. The decision, announced on Tuesday, was made by parliamentary Speaker Andreas Norlen, who intends to hold further talks with the leaders of all parties. Kristersson's mandate to explore the possibility of forming a cabinet was due to expire on Tuesday; it had been granted last week, after the far-right Sweden Democrats dropped their demand for ministerial posts.

Party lineup

According to the Anadolu Agency, the Sweden Democrats' renunciation of their claims to cabinet seats may make it easier for Kristersson to secure the support of the Centre Party and consolidate the rear of his right-wing bloc. Meanwhile, Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson, whose bloc won the September elections, has so far failed to secure the backing of the Greens, the Left Party and the Centre Party that she needs to win the parliamentary vote on her appointment as prime minister. At the same time, Kristersson's right-wing bloc has lost its parliamentary majority, and the country remains in a state of uncertainty over the formation of the next government.