Andersson announced to the Speaker of the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) on Tuesday that she was giving up her attempts to form a government for now.
Shortly afterwards, Speaker Andreas Norlén announced that he would still propose her as prime minister. Norlén pointed out that he and Andersson had agreed on this when she received her assignment.
"I am ready for a vote on the prime minister," says the Social Democratic leader.
The lack of agreements also means that she expects an absolute majority to vote against her.
"In such a vote, I will lose," she says.
Increase the pressure
However, Andersson sees a point in holding a vote on the prime minister, as it increases pressure in the process of forming a government and can prompt parties to change their entrenched positions.
The Social Democratic leader believes progress has been made in the work of forming a government. She says she has had many conversations with almost all party leaders and has focused on finding support for a new political direction for Sweden, rather than on which parties will be in the government.
The deadlock, according to Andersson, is "not least" about "incompatible positions regarding the government issue."
The Left Party demands to be allowed to join a Social Democratic-led government in order to support it, while the Center Party refuses to cooperate with or join a government that includes the Left Party.
Not surprised
Andersson does not specify which parties she would prefer to form a government with. When asked whether she sees the Left Party as capable of joining a government, she says:
There is work for the Left Party to do.
With the deadlock unresolved, Magdalena Andersson is proceeding with a one-party government when the Riksdag votes on her on Thursday. At the same time, she emphasizes that a one-party Social Democratic government was not her first choice when she explored the options.
She says she is not surprised by the difficulties in forming a government.
For me, since we received the election results, it has been obvious that the most likely scenario is that several prime ministerial votes will be required.
On Thursday, the Riksdag will vote on Magdalena Andersson.
For her to become prime minister, a majority must not vote against her. If 175 or more members of parliament vote against her, she will be defeated.
If the Social Democratic leader is defeated on Thursday, Speaker Andreas Norlén says he will call the party leaders to hear their views on the next steps.
The Speaker will then give one of the party leaders the task of exploring the possibility of forming a government. It could be Ulf Kristersson, but it could also be Magdalena Andersson again.
If no prime minister has been approved after four votes, a snap election will be held.
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