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The Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson announced this Wednesday, September 14, that she is resigning from her post, after admitting the defeat of her political bloc in the legislative elections last Sunday, September 11. Center-left movements lost out to the right-wing coalition, which includes the populist Sweden Democrats, a nationalist and anti-immigration party.
Sweden’s prime minister accepts electoral defeat and the right-wing opposition prepares to take power.
The leader of the Government, Magdalena Andersson, assured that she will formally present her resignation on Thursday, September 15, after assuring that it is clear that the center-left forces, to which she belongs, have lost power after being defeated in the legislative elections. last Sunday, September 11.
“The four right-wing parties seem to have received just under 50% of the vote in the elections (…) A small majority, but it is a majority. Tomorrow, therefore, I will request my dismissal as Prime Minister and the responsibility for continuing the process will now pass to the President of Parliament,” Andersson said.
With almost all votes from Sunday’s election now counted – and the right bloc extending its lead to 176 seats versus the left’s 173 – Sweden’s Social Democrat PM Magdalena Andersson has conceded defeat and will tomorrow tender her resignationhttps://t.co/GNCoazumnv
— Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) September 14, 2022
His remarks came after the counting of almost all the votes signaled that the right-wing bloc of four political parties, which includes the populist Sweden Democrats, a nationalist and anti-immigration movement, won a slim majority in the Riksdag, the parliament. Swedish, with 349 seats.
With 99.7% of the electoral districts counted, the right-wing opposition won the elections by three seats: 176 versus 173, according to the count issued in recent hours by the Electoral Authority, which includes the external vote and early votes shipped within the stipulated period even though they did not arrive on time.
Although some votes were pending to be counted, they are not enough to influence the final count. The final result has yet to be officially confirmed.
This ends the mandate of Andersson, who became the first woman to hold the post of prime minister of Sweden last year. The leader she led the country in its historic push to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February.
“Time to put Sweden first”, the right-wing bloc claims victory
Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, claimed the victory of his right-wing bloc and assured that his political movement would be “a constructive and driving force in this work of rebuilding security in Sweden (…) It is time to put Sweden first “, he claimed.
The populist movement is the second largest in the country, known for its nationalist ideologies.
Although that party was long shunned by citizens due to its roots in the neo-Nazi movement, it has become popular in recent years by expelling the most extreme politicians from its ranks.
Additionally, he won support with a tough stance on crime and immigration amid a spike in shootings and gang violence.
These elections mark a turning point in national politics. The Sweden Democrats, who were shunned by all the major parties when they first entered parliament in 2010, are now poised to realize their growing influence over government policy in the Scandinavian nation.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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