Moderate party leader Ulf Kristersson appointed prime minister
By Dominic Chopping
STOCKHOLM–Ulf Kristersson, the leader of Sweden’s conservative Moderates, was appointed prime minister on Monday after the Riksdag voted for his appointment.
Kristersson leads Sweden’s right-wing coalition of parties that last month knocked out the incumbent centre-left alliance in a close national election. In Monday’s prime ministerial vote, he received 176 votes for his appointment, with 173 against.
The right-wing bloc Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals spent just over two weeks after the election haggling over ministerial posts and policy agreements and said on Friday they had agreed on the terms and composition of a new government.
The new government plans to cut taxes, reduce immigration, increase defense spending and build more nuclear power capacity. In exchange for political guarantees regarding their central campaign promises regarding crime and immigration, the Sweden Democrats have agreed not to sit in government but will support the other three parties in government.
Kristersson will present his ministerial appointments on Tuesday, when the new government officially takes office.
Write to Dominic Chopping at [email protected]