Magdalena Andersson resigns as Sweden's first ever female PM hours after appointment
Sweden’s first ever female prime minister has resigned just hours after her appointment.
Magdalena Andersson resigned on Wednesday after suffering a budget defeat in parliament and coalition partner the Greens left the two-party minority government.
Ms Andersson has informed the parliamentary speaker Andreas Norlen that she is still interested in leading a Social Democratic one-party government.
”For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy,” she told reporters.
Ms Andersson, who was approved by parliament on Wednesday morning, replaced Stefan Lofven as leader of the centre-left Social Democrats. It marked an historic moment as Sweden - which granted women the vote 100 years ago - was the only Nordic country never to have elected a woman as national leader before.
“I have been elected Sweden’s first female prime minister and know what it means for girls in our country,” Ms Andersson said after her appointment.
In the 349-seat Riksdag, 117 lawmakers voted yes to Ms Andersson, 174 rejected her appointment while 57 abstained and one lawmaker was absent.
Even though she failed to win Wednesday's vote outright, under the Swedish Constitution, prime ministers can govern as long as a parliamentary majority- a minimum of 175 - is not against them.
But the government’s own budget proposal was later rejected in favour of one presented by the opposition that includes the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats.
“Now the government has voted for a budget that has been negotiated by a right-wing extremist party,” Green Party spokesperson Per Bolund said.
“That is something we deeply regret.”
Mr Norlen said he had received Ms Andersson's resignation and will contact the party leaders ”to discuss the situation,” the Swedish news agency TT said.
On Thursday, he will announce the road ahead.
Mr Lofven has been leading the Swedish government in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
Ms Andersson, 54, was poised to form a two-party, minority government between her Social Democrats and the Green Party.
Her election - which had the support of coalition partner the Greens and the Centre Party - followed a deal with the opposition Left party.
The deal focused on securing higher pensions for many Swedish people.
Sweden’s next general election is scheduled for September 11.