Sweden’s Moderates ask for more time to unite a coalition after the election win
STOCKHOLM, Sept 28 (Reuters) – The leader of Sweden’s Moderate Party on Wednesday asked the parliament speaker for two weeks to try to form a coalition and hammer out a political agenda, after his right-wing bloc narrowly won a parliamentary election this month.
The Moderates, Christian Democrats, Sweden Democrats and Liberals won 176 seats against 173 for the centre-left in the September 11 vote, but their loose alliance must be formalized if Kristersson is to become prime minister. Read more
“Nothing is clear until everything is clear,” Moderat leader Ulf Kristersson told reporters after meeting the Speaker of the Riksdag.
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While the right-wing bloc has a clear majority, it is complicated to form a government.
Kristersson’s Moderates have fewer seats than the Sweden Democrats, a populist anti-immigrant party with roots in the extreme right, but Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson cannot secure enough support to form a government himself.
The Liberals, whose support Kristersson also needs, have ruled out being in government with the Sweden Democrats and will not support a coalition that includes them.
The most likely outcome is a coalition of the Moderates and the Christian Democrats with support in the Riksdag from the Liberals and the Sweden Democrats, but finding a way to balance the demands of all four parties will be tough.
Kristersson said he would meet with the speaker again in a week to give a progress report.
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Reporting by Simon Johnson Editing by Gareth Jones
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