Sweden’s first female prime minister resigned from her role Wednesday within hours of being appointed.
Magdalena Andersson resigned as prime minister after taking office earlier the same day, citing her questionable installment vote. Andersson, the Swedish Social Democratic Party leader, claimed her resignation was a decision of “respect” and that she does not want to “lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy.”
“I have told the speaker that I wish to resign,” Andersson told reporters Wednesday.
GOP AND EXILED ACTIVISTS FIGHT CHINESE PUSH TO JOIN INTERPOL LEADERSHIP
Newly elected Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has just resigned, just a few hours after being voted in as PM in a parliamentary vote. The move comes following the Green Party’s decision to leave the government. pic.twitter.com/WH099aeBcj
— Radio Sweden (@radiosweden) November 24, 2021
Andersson’s resignation coincides with her coalition partner, the Green Party, deciding not to vote for the nation’s budget and killing the legislation.
“There is a constitutional practice that a coalition government should resign when one party quits,” the Social Democrat said at a press conference on Wednesday. “I don’t want to lead a government whose legitimacy will be questioned.”
Per Bolund, spokesman for the Green Party, said there was deep regret over the parliament’s decision to vote on a spending bill “negotiated by a right-wing extremist party.”
“The Green Party will not take office in a government that is forced to control a budget negotiated by the Sweden Democrats,” Bolund said on Twitter.
Out of the 349 members of the Swedish parliament, 174 voted against Andersson, 117 voted in favor, and 57 abstained. However, Andersson was successful in the election as prime minister because, according to Swedish law, she only needed a majority of MPs not to vote against her. Andersson was a single vote away from a majority voting against her.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The speaker of parliament, Andreas Norlen, confirmed he received Andersson’s resignation and indicated the next steps would be discussed, according to reports from local news agency TT.
Andersson previously served as finance minister and took over as leader of the Social Democrats earlier this month. The previous prime minister, Stefan Lofven, resigned on Nov. 10 after losing a parliamentary vote of confidence.
