After Only 12 Hours In Office, Sweden's First Female PM Magdalena Andersson Resigns

Swedish Prime Minister Madgalena Andersson speaks to reporters. (Wikimedia Commons/Frankie Fouganthin)

JAKARTA - Sweden's first female prime minister of the Parati Social Democrats, Magdalena Andersson, stepped down on Wednesday after less than 12 hours in office.

Andersson's shock resignation came after the Greens left their two-party coalition, sparking political uncertainty. The Greens withdrew after parliament rejected the coalition's budget bill.

But Andersson said she had told the speaker of parliament she hoped to be appointed prime minister again as head of a one-party government, and the prospect of that happening was strong with support from another party.

"I have asked the speaker to be relieved of my duties as prime minister," Andersson told a news conference, citing Reuters on Nov. 25.

"I am ready to be prime minister in one party, the Social Democratic government," she continued.

The Greens have said they will back her in any new confirmation vote in parliament. The Center Party has promised to abstain, which in practice is tantamount to supporting its candidacy. The Left Party also said it would support her.

While these parties were unable to agree on a budget, they were united in the goal of keeping the Swedish Democratic Party, a populist, anti-immigration party, from playing a role in government.

"The Central Party will open the door for her (Andersson) to become prime minister," party chairman Annie Loof said on Twitter.

"We will ensure, once again, that Sweden can have a government that is not dependent on the Swedish Democrats."

Swedish Prime Minister Madgalena Andersson. (Wikimedia Commons/Frankie Fouganthin)

The moderate right-wing Opposition and Christian Democrats are supported by the Swedish Democrats, but cannot hold a majority in parliament.

Andersson was elected prime minister replacing Stefan Lofven, as head of a two-party minority coalition backed by the Left and Center parties. However, the alliance collapsed when the Center Party refused to support the new government finance bill.

Parliament then passed a spending plan on Wednesday drawn up by the three opposition parties, prompting the Greens to leave the coalition and leaving Andersson no choice but to resign.

The speaker of parliament will now decide on the next steps in the process of finding a new government, but will most likely put Andersson up for a new vote in the coming days.

The center-left and center-right blocs are basically deadlocked in the polls.

"We expect the Left, Greens, and Center parties to abstain in the upcoming vote, therefore effectively approving Andersson as Prime Minister again," banking group Nordea said in a note.

"In other words, the political chaos ends as long as nothing more unexpected happens," the group continued.

To note, whoever becomes prime minister faces a huge challenge, and national elections are scheduled for September.

Gang violence and shootings are ruining lives in many big cities. The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing inequality in the country, with much-touted prosperity and the government needing to accelerate the shift to a green economy if it is to meet its climate change goals.

The fact that it took Sweden so long to find a female prime minister is embarrassing for many in a country that introduced universal suffrage 100 years ago and have long championed gender equality.