Swedish Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has been given more time to try to form a new government. She is hopeful of striking a deal with the Left Party to become the country’s first female prime minister. Andersson is negotiating with the Left Party over support in a potential confirmation vote. Andersson now had until Nov. 22, said the parliament’s speaker.
In a news conference she told that the conversations were constructive so in that sense it is worth asking for more time. She thinks that they can reach an agreement. Andersson was elected by the Social Democrat party to replace former Prime Minister Stefan Lofven as its chairperson. Lofven handed in his resignation as prime minister last week. He led a shaky, minority government with the Greens from 2014. And that relied on support from parties on the left and right. Andersson will also need to find support from outside the current coalition, so that she can win a confirmation vote in parliament.
While she does not need a majority in the 349-seat house to back her as prime minister, she must avoid a majority voting against her. She has secured the backing of the centre-right Centre Party. Also, she needs tacit support from the Left Party. If Andersson passes a confirmation vote, she faces a tough task to push through a budget. Three opposition parties said that they would back an alternative finance bill. The opposition’s bill would be passed, without support for the government’s budget from the Left Party and the Centre Party. The Centre Party was formerly part of a right-of-centre government and the Left Party is the former communists. Parliament will vote on the budget on Nov. 24.
