**Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson Resigns Following Election Defeat**
In a significant political shift, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has announced his resignation after his ruling right-wing coalition was narrowly defeated by the centre-left opposition in the recent general election. The announcement was made via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday afternoon, following preliminary vote counts from the election held on Sunday.
The preliminary results indicate that approximately 50,000 votes separated the two political blocs in a country with a population of about 10 million. The opposition, led by Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats, is projected to secure 176 seats in Sweden's 349-seat parliament, the Riksdag. In contrast, Kristersson's right-wing bloc, which includes his Moderates, the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD), the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals, is expected to win 173 seats.
The results are still subject to formal certification, which is anticipated to occur over the coming days, with final results expected to be confirmed by the weekend.
Kristersson, a conservative politician, had relied on the support of the Sweden Democrats to govern. In the lead-up to the election, he had promised cabinet positions to the SD should he win. However, the party experienced a surprising decline in support, marking its first loss since entering parliament in 2010, dropping three percentage points compared to the previous election in 2022.
As the election results were being tallied, election committees began counting late submissions and overseas votes. The process has been ongoing since the polls closed on Sunday evening.
In the wake of the election, Andersson has initiated discussions with other opposition parties, including The Left Party, The Centre Party, and The Green Party, with the aim of forming a new government. However, the coalition talks may face challenges due to significant differences among the parties, particularly regarding tax policies.
Historically, Sweden has experienced lengthy negotiations to form governments, with the 2022 election taking 37 days and the 2018 election extending to 134 days. The current political landscape suggests that similar delays could arise as the opposition seeks to establish a stable government.
The outcome of this election marks a pivotal moment in Swedish politics, reflecting a shift in voter sentiment and the dynamics of coalition governance in the country. As the political landscape evolves, the implications of this election will likely resonate throughout Sweden and beyond.