Speaker Andreas Norlén (M) proposes the Social Democrats’ leader Magdalena Andersson as Prime Minister of a purely Social Democratic government, despite her own statement that the conditions for forming a government tolerated by the parliament are lacking. The vote will take place on Thursday at 12 noon.

The Left Party, Green Party, and the Liberals have said they will vote no. The Centre Party has yet to announce its position. Andersson herself points out Ulf Kristersson (M) as the next candidate.

On Tuesday, Andersson returned her exploratory mandate after just over a week of talks, a day later than planned after being granted extra time by the Speaker.

There has been progress, she said at a press conference, but irreconcilable positions on the government issue currently make it impossible to form a government that can be tolerated by parliament.

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The obstacles are primarily the red lines between the Centre Party and the Left Party. The Centre refuses to back a government with Left Party ministers, and the Left Party refuses to support a government it is not part of.

The vote is still happening because Norlén previously announced that the exploration would be followed by a prime ministerial vote and because Andersson has stated that she is ready.

However, since she does not have an agreement with other parties, it is her as the sole party government Prime Minister who is being tested, something she calls the most natural despite it not being the government she has explored.

The Social Democratic leader has also stated that if she falls, it would be reasonable, in her view, for Kristersson to be given the next assignment.

How the Parties Will Vote

The Left Party’s deputy leader Ida Gabrielsson says that the Left will vote no to a purely Social Democratic government, and that more parties will likely do the same.

The Green Party’s economic policy spokesperson Janine Alm Ericson gave the same message. The Greens still want a majority government with all four red-green parties.

The Liberals are also voting no. Party leader Simona Mohamsson calls Magdalena Andersson’s statement a poor display of leadership.

Centre leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist writes to SVT that the Centre Party is dealing with the Speaker’s announcement in its usual decision-making process and will return with its stance afterwards.

The proposal falls if more than half of parliament’s 349 members, that is, at least 175, vote no.

Four Nos Before an Extra Election

According to the Constitution, parliament must vote on the Speaker’s prime ministerial proposal within four days. If four proposals are voted down, the government formation process is interrupted and an extra election is to be held within three months, unless a regular election is already planned during the period.

If Andersson is voted down on Thursday, Norlén plans to quickly contact party leaders by phone rather than call a new formal round. The aim is to speed up the process. He has not yet said who would be given the next exploratory assignment.

See the Speaker’s press conference: