Swedish Parliament Votes Against Opposition Leader Kristersson As Prime Minister

The majority of lawmakers in the Swedish parliament voted on Wednesday against the center-right Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson as the country's prime minister.

STOCKHOLM (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) The majority of lawmakers in the Swedish parliament voted on Wednesday against the center-right Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson as the country's prime minister.

Kristersson's candidacy was rejected by a 195-154 vote.

One of the main reasons Kristersson failed to secure the necessary number of votes was the fact that there were disagreements within his opposition bloc of the center-right parties Alliance. Namely, his usual allies, the Liberals and the Centre Party, voted against Kristersson, according to media reports.

Centre Party head Annie Loof explained the move by refusing to support a minority government that would rely on the far-right Sweden Democrats in getting the bills through the parliament, according to The Local media outlet.

In turn, Liberals' leader Jan Arne Bjorklund reiterated his support to Kristersson, but also voiced concerns about "a rising tide of right-wing nationalism in the western world."

Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen said that he intended to continue negotiations with the leaders of the parliamentary parties on forming a new government.

"Members of parliament rejected my proposal of the candidate for the post of the head of government. Of course, I will not give up and will continue to work with the tasks. I used one of my four opportunities for the candidacy of the head of government before the early elections are automatically announced," Norlen told reporters, as broadcast on the parliament's website, adding that he planned to start a new round of negotiations with the leaders of the parliamentary parties.

Following the September elections, eight political parties managed to get seats in the parliament. However, no party or political bloc has the majority.

The red-green bloc of the former government headed by ex-Prime Minister Stefan Lofven received 144 seats after the vote, while the Alliance got 143 seats in the hung parliament.

On September 24, the lawmakers voted against prolonging Lofven's mandate. He then headed the transitional government in anticipation of the formation of a new government.