Sweden’s Magdalena Andersson ends government-formation talks with no result

Sweden’s election winner Magdalena Andersson said she is not currently able to form a government, underscoring the difficulty of building a coalition in the fragmented parliament after the election earlier this month.

The Social Democrat leader returned her mandate to explore forming a government after the Left Party decided to support a centre-right candidate for parliament speaker in a vote later on Monday, she told reporters.

The move does not necessarily mean Andersson will not be the next prime minister. She could still get another shot at forming a government if her rivals also fail.

The latest development could give current caretaker Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson – in charge of the country since October 2022 – of the Moderates a chance to try to stitch together a coalition.