Sweden’s former prime minister Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Social Democratic Party (S), has been given a second mandate by King Carl XVI Gustaf to forge a coalition government after initial negotiations collapsed over the Sweden Democrats’ (SD) demand for a ministerial portfolio.
Background and stakes
In the September 2022 parliamentary election, the Social Democrats emerged as the largest party but fell short of a majority in the 349‑seat Riksdag. Forming a stable government requires a coalition that can command at least 175 seats. Traditionally, the centre‑left bloc – comprising the Social Democrats (S), the Left Party (V) and the Green Party (MP) – has cooperated, while the right‑wing bloc includes the Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals and the anti‑immigration Sweden Democrats (SD).
Andersson succeeded in leading a minority government after the 2021 election, but her recent attempt to secure a broader coalition faltered when SD insisted on a cabinet post, a demand the left‑wing parties rejected. The deadlock prompted the king to dissolve the previous talks and request a new exploratory round.
Renewed talks and shifting positions
According to Dagens Nyheter, Green Party leader Thand Ringqvist has convened a meeting with representatives of the Social Democrats, Left Party and Greens to discuss a possible “red‑green” alliance that could command a parliamentary majority without SD’s participation. Ringqvist’s invitation signals an effort to streamline negotiations and avoid the procedural pitfalls highlighted by a political scientist who warned, “This is not how it should be done,” Dagens Nyheter reported.
In a notable development, Västerbottens‑Kuriren quoted an unnamed senior SD figure as saying the party is now “open to dropping the ministerial demand,” a stance that could remove the principal obstacle to a centre‑left coalition. The report suggests the shift is driven by internal pressure within SD to avoid a prolonged stalemate that could force a snap election.
“Another SD leader opens up to dropping the ministerial demand,” the outlet wrote.
The prospect of SD conceding on the cabinet post has been echoed by French daily Le Monde, which noted that Andersson has received a “second chance to form government” amid a “more flexible” position from the right‑wing party. The Azerbaijani news agency also reported that the king’s decision reflects “the need for political stability in Sweden.”
Political reactions and timeline
Opposition parties have responded cautiously. The Left Party warned that any compromise with SD could erode progressive policy goals, while the Greens emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement before the new parliamentary session begins in October. Corren highlighted that Andersson’s renewed mandate “does not guarantee success,” noting the limited time window to finalize a coalition before the Riksdag convenes.
Analysts stress that the next few weeks will be decisive. If the Social Democrats can secure the support of the Left and Greens while SD abandons its ministerial claim, a centre‑left minority government could be formed, relying on ad‑hoc support from other parties for key votes. Conversely, a failure to bridge the divide could push Sweden toward a caretaker government or trigger a snap election, an outcome that both business leaders and EU partners are keen to avoid.
Andersson’s second attempt underscores the fragility of Sweden’s fragmented parliamentary landscape and the pivotal role of party negotiations in shaping the country’s policy direction on issues ranging from climate change to migration and fiscal reform.
