Key facts
- Magdalena Andersson's bid to form a minority government was rejected by Sweden's parliament.
- The rejection extends a period of uncertainty over who will become prime minister.
- Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party was previously voted down by a parliamentary majority.
- The vote against Kristersson was the first time a prime minister candidate was defeated in Swedish history.
- Lawmakers rejected a proposed minority coalition of the Moderates and Christian Democrats.
Sweden's parliament rejected Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson's bid to form a minority government on Thursday, extending a period of uncertainty over who will become prime minister after last month's general election. Four centre-left opposition parties, which have all said they favour Andersson as prime minister, won a majority of seats in Sweden's parliament on September 13, but do not agree on who should be part of a new government.
Previously, Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party was voted down by a parliamentary majority on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Lawmakers rejected a proposed minority coalition of the center-right Moderates and the small Christian Democrats by 195 votes to 154. Those opposing the coalition said it would give influence to the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats. This was the first time in Swedish history that a proposal for a new prime minister has been defeated.