Sweden’s Outgoing PM Kristersson To Try To Form New Government

Sweden’s outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has been asked by the Speaker of the Riksdag to try to form a new government despite losing his right-wing coalition’s majority in the snap election held on 13 September 2026, a move that plunges the country deeper into a post-election gridlock that has already seen two failed attempts to elect a premier. On Tuesday 3 November, lawmakers as expected rejected Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist as prime minister in the second of four constitutionally mandated ballots before a fresh election must be called, after she had abandoned an attempt last week to forge a centrist coalition and declared she does not aspire to be prime minister. Following that vote, Speaker Andreas Norlen formally passed the exploratory mandate to Kristersson, leader of the Moderates and prime minister since 2022, who accepted the assignment and confirmed he would report back by 10 November at the latest, telling a press conference collected by Aftonbladet that he wants to examine whether the current non-socialist coalition could continue. Kristersson admitted the task would be difficult, even very difficult, because the September election gave the centre-left opposition a narrow majority of 176 of 349 seats and all four parties favour Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister but disagree on who should be part of her government, a deadlock that already led parliament on 15 October to reject Andersson’s own bid to form a minority Social Democrat cabinet. The outgoing premier said he will hold discreet talks with Christian Democrats, Liberals and again seek support from the far-right Sweden Democrats to secure the 175 seats needed, while also stressing he does not intend to force a new election but is fully prepared for that outcome if no majority can be found, noting his party is in good shape for a campaign, leaving open the possibility that the mandate could revert to Andersson should his attempt fail.