Sweden’s
first woman Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson resigned hours after
taking oath. The Swedish Social Democratic Party had formed a coalition government with the Left Party and the Green Party, which withdrew from the alliance after Andersson presented her government’s budget. The budget was defeated in parliament, forcing her to quit. Andersson did not have time to formally take over from outgoing Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven before she had to step down.

Also Read: Who is Magdalena Andersson?

Andersson is the second woman leader of the Social Democratic Party. She was elected head of the party on November 4. She was elected Sweden’s first woman prime minister on Wednesday after 117 members of the 349-member Swedish parliament backed her candidature. A total of 174 members voted against her, while 57 members skipped the voting.

“If more than half of the members of the
Riksdag, that is at least 175 members, vote against the Speaker’s proposal for
a new prime minister, it is rejected. Otherwise, it is approved,” the Swedish
constitution states.

Since less than 175 members of parliament voted against Andersson, she became the prime minister. However, to gain support from the Left Party, Andersson had promised to raise pensions. Her decision went against the views of the Green Party. As the political pendulum slanted towards another ally, the Green Party, the biggest ally of the Social Democratic Party, quit the coalition, leaving Andersson’s government without a majority. 

After Andersson presented her budget in parliament, it voted in favour of the budget presented by the Opposition, which included conservative Moderates, Christian Democrats and far-right Sweden Democrats. The Opposition’s budget has promised to reduce taxes, increase police salaries and expenditure on various judiciary sectors.

Also Read: Sweden’s first female Prime Minister-elect Magdalena Andersson resigns hours after appointment

As the far-right coalition’s budget in the parliament was approved, the Green Party quit Andersson’s coalition government. Andersson decided to resign as prime minister, promising to form a Social Democratic Party government again without a coalition. The speaker of parliament said on Thursday that she would have a second chance to form the government.