Sweden’s first female prime minister was forced out of office just hours after she had been elected. Her coalition party supporters withdrew support.
Magdalena Andersson was the finance minister and won the vote in parliament by the narrowest margin. This result is due to a partnership with centre-left parties.
The Green Party lost support for her after she failed to pass a critical budget bill. She was forced into resign and a new prime ministerial vote will follow.
Sweden’s first woman prime minister is forced to step down just hours after her appointment.
Andersson had already reached a deal with the Left in order to increase pensions, in return for support in today’s election.
This month, she assumed the leadership of the Social Democrats and was supported by the Greens (the Social Democrats’ coalition partner) as well as Centre Party.
Because the current result relied on Andersson leading a coalition of Social Democrats and Greens, parliament will need to hold another prime ministerial election.
A rival bill was presented by three right-wing parties and the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. The government budget was defeated.
Marta Stenevi is green leader. She said, “We wanted power in order for us to pursue green policies.”
“It is not the Green Party’s job to implement a budget agreed with the Sweden Democrats.
A total of 117 parliament members voted in her favor on Wednesday. 57 abstained and 174 voted against. One member was not present.
After withdrawing their support for the new prime minister, Per Bolund and Marta Stenevi of The Green Party hold a press conference
According to Sweden’s system, the prime ministerial candidates do not require support from a majority of parliament members. They just need not to have 175 votes or less against them.
Sweden is a country that long supported gender equality. However, it has never elected a female prime minister.
Andersson called this a “special day” because it was 100 years since Sweden permitted female suffrage.
In all other Nordic countries, including Norway, Denmark and Finland, women have led their governments.
Stefan Lofven was replaced by Andersson on November 10. He had served seven years as the prime minister. It was widely believed that Andersson would be stepping down to allow Stefan Lofven’s successor enough time for preparations for the September 2022 general elections.
The Social Democrats have their lowest ever approval ratings, with elections only a year away.
Total of 117 parliament members voted in her favor, while 57 abstained and 174 voted against. One was not present.
In recent years, the right-wing opposition to immigration, headed by Moderates conservatives, has gotten closer to the antiimmigration Sweden Democrats. It hopes to be able to lead the government with its informal backing.
Andersson was confirmed in November as Social Democrats leader. She is a former Junior Swimming Champion who has been described as both a “pragmatic” and a “technocratic bureaucrat”.
She declared that she wanted Sweden to be a leading global example in climate adaptation and would not accept the privatization of its welfare system – healthcare, schools and elderly care.
Und she promised to end segregation and shootings in the country, as well as the bombings and other incidents that plague the country since recent years. These were usually the result of gangland rivalries.
Violence has been concentrated in areas with high immigrant populations and disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, it has begun to spread into other parts of the country.
In next year’s elections, crime and immigration will be major concerns for Swedes.