Magdalena Andersson, the newly elected Swedish Prime Minister has announced her resignation right after making history of being tapped as the country’s first woman premier. The decision she made after the budget defeat in parliament and coalition partner the Greens left the two-party minority government.
- The government’s own budget proposal was rejected in favor of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats. The vote was in favor of the democratic party 154-143.
- For this Andersson, leader of the Social Democratic party and new Swedish Prime Minister, decided to step down from the post more for best within seven hours of joining.
- In a news conference, Andersson said, ‘For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy. I have told the speaker that I wish to resign as prime minister.’
- 117 lawmakers voted yes to Andersson, 174 rejected her appointment while 57 abstained and one lawmaker was absent.
- As the Green Party quits the new ruling minority coalition in the wake of a budget defeat Andersson is reportedly expecting new support.
- Andersson said to the parliamentary Speaker Andreas Norlen that she is still interested in leading a Social Democratic one-party government.
- Norlen said in his reply that he will contact Sweden’s eight party leaders “to discuss the situation”.
- Andersson told about the situation that, ‘A coalition government should resign if a party chooses to leave the government. Despite the fact that the parliamentary situation is unchanged, it needs to be tried again.’
- According to Andersson, she could govern the country with the opposition budget, but the Greens disagree.
- Co-leader Marta Stenevi of the Greens said, ‘It is not the Green Party’s job in politics to implement a budget negotiated with the Sweden Democrats.’
- Andersson was the replacement of Stefan Lofven as party leader and prime minister, that he left earlier this year.
As per the Swedish Constitution, prime ministers can be named and governed as long as a parliamentary majority a minimum of 175 lawmakers is not against them.