In Stockholm, the formation of a new government has devolved into public disputes among the left-wing parties, leading the head of the Swedish Social Democrats to express doubts about achieving a functional coalition.
Just under two weeks after the left faction narrowly defeated the conservative bloc, former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democrats—currently the largest party in the Riksdag—exclaimed in frustration on Monday that she could no longer see a viable way to form a government, subsequently stepping back and allowing other parties to try to establish a governing coalition.
This situation escalated when the socialist Left Party unexpectedly diverged from the broader left coalition during the Speaker of the House selection, supporting Andreas Norlén from the center-right Moderate Party instead of the Social Democrats’ candidate, Johanna Haraldsson.
The Left Party justified its stance, suggesting that forming a new government could take time and arguing that Norlén’s prior experience in similar situations would provide stability in the Riksdag. This led them to side with the conservatives against Haraldsson.
Andersson expressed her anger regarding the Left’s choice, insisting that the largest parliamentary party ought to rightfully claim the Speakership, which outranks even the Prime Minister.
During a press briefing, the Social Democrat leader stated, “there is currently no possibility for me to form a government,” and handed back the exploration task to the Speaker, allowing others the chance to create a government. Perhaps with a hint of sarcasm, Andersson mentioned that a new political “constellation” could emerge between the Left Party and the center-right Moderates, insisting her decision wasn’t just a ploy for political leverage.
“This isn’t about intensifying pressure; I can only point out that the Left Party has opted to collaborate with the Moderates, and I can draw conclusions from that based on our discussions,” she remarked, according to Svenska Dagbladet.
While the Left justified its backing of a Moderate over a more aligned Social Democrat for Speaker as a matter of political stability, many observers suspect underlying power struggles. The Left Party faces challenges as it seeks representation in a possible Social Democrat-led government. Although it may become the second-largest left-wing entity, its more radical positions have been deemed unacceptable by the liberal Centre Party, which is unwilling to ally with Social Democrats if the Left holds any cabinet positions. Hence, the Left appears prepared to engage in hardball politics to assert its influence.
Tensions exist between the two left-wing factions, with a deputy leader of the Left Party going so far as to insult the Social Democrats on a public broadcaster.
The collapse of Andersson’s coalition discussions could, paradoxically, allow Prime Minister Kristersson to retain power despite his faction’s election losses. A possible route forward for him may involve striking a deal with the liberal Centre Party. Despite their leader stating a preference for a Social Democrat-led government, he hasn’t completely ruled out a partnership with the Moderates.
However, similar to the Left Party, the Centrists have dismissed any potential collaboration with a right-wing administration that includes the populist Sweden Democrats. It will be critical for Jimmie Åkesson and his party to remain outside the government as backers to deter the left from gaining control. Still, it’s uncertain what demands the Centre Party will make during coalition discussions and whether those terms will be acceptable to the other right-wing parties.
If four attempts to appoint a new Prime Minister fail, Swedish citizens may be called back to the polls to resolve the impasse.
