Sweden’s Moderates strike minority government settlement
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Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson said on Friday that he had agreed with the Christian Democrats and Liberals to form a minority coalition government after the right-wing bloc won a majority in last month’s election.
Sweden’s largest right-wing party, the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, will not be part of the government but has agreed to support its formation, marking the first time the nationalist group has gained direct influence over politics.
With the support of the Sweden Democrats, Kristersson is almost certain to win the Riksdag’s support for his government. He becomes Prime Minister as long as a majority of the Riksdag does not vote against his appointment.
“At 1100 (CET) I will go to speaker Andreas Norlen and present that we, our four parties, are ready to go to the polls on Monday and form a new government,” Kristersson said at a press conference.
“There will be a three-party government with the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals. That government will have close cooperation with the Sweden Democrats,” he said.
If the speaker later on Friday gets rid of Kristersson’s business, the Riksdag can vote on the proposed government on Monday at the earliest.
The right-wing bloc secured a narrow majority and won 176 seats in the 349-member parliament in the September 11 election.
(Reuters)