The Newshound

Sweden's conservative PM Ulf Kristersson resigns after centre-left bloc wins slim three-seat majority

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

A data graphic showing Sweden's left-wing bloc victory, with a record 3.6 million Swedes having cast early votes in an election dominated by mass migration, gang violence and the cost of living.
A data graphic showing Sweden's left-wing bloc victory, with a record 3.6 million Swedes having cast early votes in an election dominated by mass migration, gang violence and the cost of living.
Magdalena Andersson, whose Social Democrats emerged as the largest single party, faces a complicated path to government with major disagreements over tax among her prospective coalition partners.
Magdalena Andersson, whose Social Democrats emerged as the largest single party, faces a complicated path to government with major disagreements over tax among her prospective coalition partners.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stepped down after four years in power, announcing his resignation in a letter on X once the final vote count confirmed the centre-left opposition bloc had taken 176 seats against his coalition's 173. Magdalena Andersson, the Social Democrats leader who held the prime ministerial role before Kristersson defeated her in 2022, said the Swedish people had 'voted for a new direction' and is now expected to lead efforts to form a new government.

The margin was wafer-thin: just 50,359 votes separated the two blocs across the entire country.

The far-right Sweden Democrats — whose promised cabinet posts under Kristersson had alarmed opponents — recorded their first-ever drop in support since the party was founded, falling from second to third largest party.

Parliamentary speaker Andreas Norlén's next step is to canvass party representatives before naming a candidate for prime minister, with Andersson having identified climate, schools, healthcare and immigration as her priorities.

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