Sweden’s first female prime minister presents her government
Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP) – Sweden’s first female prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, presented her one-party minority government on Tuesday with only a few changes compared to the previous government.
Andersson, who has been Sweden’s Minister of Finance, chose Mikael Damberg to replace her in that role. Damberg had previously been Minister of the Interior.
Andersson, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, was re-elected on Monday as head of government of the Scandinavian nation. She resigned last week after seven hours as prime minister because a budget defeat forced the then coalition partner The Greens to leave their two-party coalition.
The move followed her government’s budget proposal being rejected in favor of one put forward by opposition parties, including the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, which are rooted in a neo-Nazi movement.
On Monday, Andersson was appointed prime minister despite 101 legislators voting in favor of her appointment and 173 against, with 75 abstentions. According to the Swedish constitution, prime ministers can be appointed and govern as long as a parliamentary majority – at least 175 legislators – does not oppose them.
Andersson retained Ann Linde as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Peter Hultqvist as Minister of Defense.
The Greens held, among other things, the Ministry of the Environment and Culture in the previous government. The Social Democrats Annika Strandhall and Jeanette Gustafsdotter took over the two posts.
Andersson has replaced Stefan Lofven as party leader and prime minister, roles he left earlier this year. She will be formally installed after an audience with King Carl XVI Gustav, Sweden’s galleon monarch later on Tuesday. Lofven, who had led the Swedish government as caretaker, will resign.
Sweden’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for 11 September.
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