Chief Financial Officer Andersson was appointed Sweden’s first female Prime Minister
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – Sweden’s Minister of Finance Magdalena Andersson is ready to become the country’s first female prime minister, after the ruling Social Democratic Party on Thursday elected her as its new leader.
As the new party leader, Andersson, 54, will replace Stefan Lofven, who is also resigning as Sweden’s Prime Minister. She will be confirmed as Prime Minister by the Riksdag, according to Sweden’s constitution.
The two-party governing coalition hopes to secure her confirmation with the support of two smaller parties. The country is facing a parliamentary election next year.
Andersson was elected by acclamation on the second day of the party’s regular congress in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city. She was the only candidate.
Lofven, 63, must formally announce the Speaker of the Riksdag that he is resigning and propose his replacement for Andersson, who will then form a government. No official timetable has been released.
During his annual summer speech in August, Lofven, in office since 2014, unexpectedly announced that he was resigning before the party congress.
In June, Lofven became the first Swedish prime minister to lose a vote of confidence in the Riksdag. But the country avoided a quick election because he could later form a coalition government similar to the previous one.
Lofven became head of the Social Democrats in 2012, which currently holds 100 of the Riksdag’s 349 seats.
Sweden’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for 11 September.