Swedish PM resigns after razor-thin election loss
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson resigned on Sept. 17 after the final votes in the country’s parliamentary election gave the center-left opposition a three-seat advantage.
The red-green opposition won a combined 176 seats, while the four parties behind Kristersson’s government secured 173, according to preliminary results reported by Swedish public broadcaster SVT.
The two blocs were separated by just 50,359 votes.
Kristersson submitted his resignation to the speaker of parliament, saying the election result could make forming Sweden’s next government complicated because of parties’ pre-election positions on potential coalition partners.
“It is now the speaker who will lead the next steps toward forming a new government,” Kristersson said.
Kristersson and his ministers will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new government takes over.
Kristersson has served as prime minister since 2022. Under his government, Sweden became a NATO member and emerged as a major supporter of Ukraine, including through military aid and a bilateral security agreement.