The political arena in Sweden has been quite chaotic over the past several months, but they now have a new government with a woman at the helm.
The Change of Government Council was held with King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. The council was also attended by Crown Princess Victoria, the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament and the incoming new Swedish government.
The King began the council by delivering a short speech, in which he said: “Mr President, and – for the first time – Madam Prime Minister, future Minister of State. Welcome. For almost three weeks, the Speaker has led the work of appointing a new form of government, after which the Riksdag has approved the Speaker’s proposal. Following a parliamentary process in accordance with our constitution, a new government will take office today in the Council Chamber at the Royal Palace. And you, Madam Prime Minister, will be the 34th holder of the post of Prime Minister since it was introduced during the time of my great-great-grandfather King Oscar II. With this, I declare this council open and hand over the floor to the President.”
The President then formally reported to the King and Crown Princess on how the government was formed, while His Majesty, as a matter of protocol, stated that a change of government had taken place.
After the public and televised part of the council, the President left the meeting. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Crown Princess Victoria and the newly appointed government remained at the Royal Palace for the new government’s first ordinary state council.
The minority government in Sweden, which now consists of only one party, the Social Democratic Party, has come into being in a sea of chaotic events. The Prime Minister must govern Sweden on a conservative budget.
She was first elected prime minister on 26 November, but the Green Party left the government a few hours later when the government’s budget was voted down. Therefore, after a few hours, Andersson had to resign before she was re-elected on 29 November and officially approved by the King the following day.
