Sweden's first female prime minister resigns just after her appointment

November 30, 2021: -Sweden’s first female prime minister, Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson, resigned just hours after being appointed.

On Wednesday, Andersson said she was forced to resign after her budget bill failed and the Green Party quit their two-party coalition government. She was announced as leader earlier in the day to a standing ovation by some sectors of the parliament.

Despite that, lawmakers in the Riksdag voted in favor of a budget tabled by the opposition, including the anti-immigration right-wing party of the Sweden Democrats.

Andersson told the reporters she hoped to be reappointed prime minister as the head of a single-party government.

“I have asked the speaker to be relieved of my duties as prime minister,” Andersson told a media conference. “I am ready to be prime minister in a single-party, Social Democrat government.”

The Green Party and the socialist Left Party have both said they are prepared to support the re-appointment of Andersson, who served as finance minister for seven years under her predecessor Stefan Lofven.

Sweden’s Center Party has said it would abstain, which effectively paves the way for Andersson to get the top job once again.

The parties are unable to approve a budget bill in a fragmented political landscape. Still, they are seen to be united to prevent the Sweden Democrats from having a role in government.

“Magdalena Andersson stands by her word to deliver on the agreement concludes, and the Center Party will release her as Prime Minister,” Annie Loof, leader of the country’s Center Party, said via Twitter on Wednesday.

“We are now making sure that Sweden can have a government that is not dependent on,” she added.

Parliamentary speaker Andreas Nolen is expected to announce the following steps to form a new government on Thursday.