Sweden’s Government Formation Stalemate: What Has Happened Since the Election

September 13. Sweden goes to the polls. The Sweden Democrats (SD) and the Social Democrats (S) are both losing support sharply, while the Left Party (V) is gaining the most of all the parties. The blocs are tied.

September 14. The opposition leads with 176 seats to the government bloc’s 173.

September 15. The vote count continues. The Social Democrats demand that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) submit his resignation to the Speaker.

September 16. The seat count swings back and forth during the vote count. SVT’s forecast points to an opposition victory.

September 17. The red-green parties win the election with 176 seats to the Tidö parties’ 173. Ulf Kristersson resigns as prime minister and now leads a caretaker government. Magdalena Andersson (S) gives a victory speech.

September 18. The first round of consultations with party leaders begins. Magdalena Andersson receives the first mandate to explore forming a government.

September 21. The red-green parties’ group leaders discuss seats on parliamentary committees. They form a coalition. Later in the week, they discuss the Speaker election.

September 27. In the evening, the Left Party announces that it will vote for Moderate Party politician Andreas Norlén as Speaker.

September 28. The newly elected members of parliament are called to the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament). Andreas Norlén is elected Speaker for a third term with the support of M, SD, KD, L and V. Magdalena Andersson returns her mandate to explore forming a government.

September 29. The Riksdag opens.

September 30. The second round of the Speaker election is held. Norlén needs more time to appoint a candidate to explore forming a government.

October 2. The Speaker gives Magdalena Andersson the mandate again and announces that she will be put to a prime ministerial vote.

October 5. Magdalena Andersson resumes her efforts to form a government and has one week to complete them.

October 9. The red-green parties meet at Högberga farm on Lidingö to develop a shared understanding of Sweden’s challenges.

October 11. Andersson gets an extra day to explore forming a government.

October 13. The Social Democratic leader reports back to the Speaker and announces that the conditions are not in place for her to form a government.

October 15. The Riksdag votes down Magdalena Andersson in a prime ministerial vote. All parties except the Social Democrats press the red button.