Swedish Parliament Reelects Magdalena Andersson as Prime Minister Days After Quitting Post

Magdalena Andersson, who last week became Sweden's first female prime minister before stepping down hours later, was elected to the position again Monday.

The 349-seat Riksdag, Sweden's national legislature, reelected Andersson in a 101-173 vote with 75 abstentions. According to the Associated Press, her cabinet is expected to be named Tuesday.

Andersson was sworn in as prime minister on Wednesday, but following a budget defeat in favor of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, her coalition partner, the Green Party, left the two-party minority government.

That caused her to step down due to a Swedish constitutional practice that says a coalition government should resign if one party chooses to leave. She said she did not want her government's legitimacy to be questioned.

Andersson, leader of the Social Democrat party, will now form a one-party minority government instead. Under the Swedish Constitution, prime ministers can remain in power as long as a parliamentary majority—at least 175 lawmakers—is not against them.

"It feels good and I am eager to start," Andersson told AP.

Though Andersson's government policies will formally be announced once her cabinet is announced on Tuesday, in the past she has said her priorities are welfare, climate and anti-violence initiatives.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Magdalena Andersson, Sweden, Riksdag
Finance Minister and Social Democrat party leader Magdalena Andersson was reelected as Sweden's prime minister on Monday after stepping down from the position on November 24, 2021. Above, Andersson (right) is applauded after being appointed... Jonas Ekstromer/TT via AP

Formally, Andersson will be installed following an audience with King Carl XVI Gustav, Sweden's figurehead monarch.

Andersson repeated she would govern Sweden with the opposition's budget which was was based on the government's own proposal but of the 74 billion kronor ($8.2 billion) that the government wanted to spend on reforms, just over 20 billion kronor ($2.2 billion) will be redistributed next year. The approved budget aims at reducing taxes, increased salaries for police officers and more money to different sectors of Sweden's judiciary system.

In a speech to parliament, Center Party leader Annie Loof said a female prime minister "means a lot to many girls and women, to see this glass ceiling shattered. I am proud that [the Center Party] is involved and makes this possible." Her party abstained from voting for or against Andersson, paving the way for her election.

Andersson's appointment as prime minister had marked a milestone for Sweden, viewed for decades as one of Europe's most progressive countries when it comes to gender relations, but which had yet to have a woman in the top political post.

Sweden is the last Nordic country to have a woman prime minister. The current government leaders in Denmark and Finland are women, Mette Frederiksen and Sanna Marin, respectively. Norway's first prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland took office in 1981, while Johanna Sigurdardottir became Iceland's first female prime minister in 2009.

With 10 months to the next election, Andersson said, smiling, that she hopes to hold the job for 10 years.

Magdalena Andersson, Sweden, Prime Minister
Magdalena Andersson was elected as Sweden's first female prime minister. Above, Andersson holds a press conference after the Swedish parliament Riksdag voted for the second time on her appointment as prime minister in Stockholm on... Photo by Jonas Ekstromer/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer



To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go