Sweden faces political deadlock after election-winning center-left bloc fails to form government

The leader of Sweden's center-left Social Democratic Party, Magdalena Andersson, on Monday said her talks with other parties had failed to form a government after her bloc's narrow election victory.

The breakdown leaves Sweden without a new government more than two weeks after the election and opens the door for the outgoing right-wing bloc to try to remain in power despite losing the vote.

Why did Sweden's government talks fail?

Andersson had been trying to bring together the Social Democrats, Greens, Center Party and Left Party, which together won 176 of parliament's 349 seats.

But talks foundered on deep divisions between the centrist Center Party and socialist Left Party.

"Based on the discussions I have had, I can conclude that, as things currently stand, it is not possible for me to form a government," Andersson told reporters.

The four-party bloc won 176 seats in the September 13 election, compared with 173 for the outgoing right-wing alliance. The popular vote difference was around 50,000.

What happens next?

The speaker of parliament is now expected to ask another party leader to try to form a government, with outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the center-right Moderate Party the likely next choice.

How Sweden's tough migration policy impacts youth

Kristersson continues to lead a caretaker government. His bloc, which includes the far-right Sweden Democrats, has also failed to secure a majority and would probably need support from the Center Party.

Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has ruled out supporting a government that gives influence to either the Sweden Democrats or the Left Party.

Protracted government formation is not unusual in Sweden. It took 37 days to establish a government following the 2022 election and 134 days after the vote in 2018.