Sweden Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

SWEDEN · POLITICS

How Sweden Reached a Caretaker Government

Sweden’s 2026 parliamentary election produced a narrow centre-left majority, with the centre-left bloc holding 176 of 349 seats in the Riksdag, the national legislature. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government resigned after the result, and Sweden entered caretaker government status on 17 September 2026.

This guide is part of The Rio Times series on European politics. See also our guides to Spain and Germany’s AfD debate.

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson was asked to try to form a government, but on Monday, 28 September, she returned the mandate. She abandoned a second attempt on 13 October, with the role of the Left Party in a government the sticking point.

On 15 October 2026 the Riksdag voted 248 to 99 against Speaker Norlén’s proposal to appoint Andersson prime minister. A candidate is blocked if at least 175 of the 349 members vote against, under Sweden’s system of negative parliamentarism.

On 19 October, Norlén asked Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist to explore possible governments, and she is due to report on Monday, 26 October. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson has invited her to talks, according to Swedish business news.

Who Holds Power Now

Ulf Kristersson remains prime minister in a caretaker capacity, and the government’s authority is limited primarily to ongoing and urgent matters. According to Dagens PS, the caretaker government must submit the 2027 Budget Bill to the Riksdag by 12 November 2026.

Andreas Norlén, the Riksdag speaker, currently has the decisive constitutional role in government formation. He consults the eight party leaders, proposes a prime ministerial candidate, and manages the parliamentary process after a candidate fails to win approval.

Magdalena Andersson remains leader of the Social Democratic Party and is the principal figure of the centre-left bloc, but she has not secured enough cross-party support to become prime minister. Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, has said his party wants to be either in government or in opposition.

That demand complicates a return by Kristersson, because Centre Party leader Thand Ringqvist has said she will not work with the Sweden Democrats. King Carl XVI Gustaf opened the new Riksdag session on 29 September, but the monarch has no role in choosing a government.

The Parliamentary Deadlock

The central problem is not simply the election result. The centre-left parties have a numerical majority but remain divided over coalition composition and policy, particularly the role of the Left Party in a government.

On the right, Kristersson faces the Sweden Democrats’ demand for cabinet participation and the Centre Party’s opposition to any government involving them. A prime-ministerial candidate is rejected if more than half of all Riksdag members—at least 175—vote against the proposal.

Sweden’s constitution allows up to four failed prime-ministerial votes. After four failures, an extraordinary election must be held within three months.

Norlén has said he wants the process to go faster this time, noting that government formation after the 2018 election took 134 days. Andersson’s first attempt failed to reconcile the positions of the Centre Party and the Left Party.

Recent Developments and Administrative Actions

The Government Offices said Kristersson received Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during a state visit held at the invitation of the King from 19 to 21 October. This shows the caretaker government continues routine diplomatic functions.

The Government Offices also announced that, from Monday, 26 October, it would block ChatGPT and Claude on staff work computers and approve Microsoft Copilot instead, citing information security. Some staff keep access to both tools through the Government Offices’ own AI platform.

A separate political dispute concerns proposed legislation to halt some so-called “teenage deportations”. Centre-left parties reportedly agreed on the outline of a temporary law that would give those affected a residence permit lasting 13 months.

Maria Mindhammar, director general of the Swedish Migration Agency, said she had not closed the door to pausing deportations while awaiting legislation. Whether the agency will actually pause removals remains unclear.

What Prediction Markets Say

Polymarket, where US$10.4 million has been traded, prices Magdalena Andersson at 75.5% to be Sweden’s next prime minister and Ulf Kristersson at 18.6%. Ebba Busch, leader of the Christian Democrats, is priced at 4.0%.

These prices are bets, not polls, and they were read on 25 October at 1:30 a.m. ET. They show what traders expect about who eventually leads a government, not a parliamentary vote count.

Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.

What It Means for US Readers

For American readers, Sweden’s political uncertainty matters because the country is a NATO member and a significant EU economy with deep trade links to the United States. A prolonged government formation could delay decisions on defense spending, EU coordination, and transatlantic security policy.

A caretaker government can handle ongoing business but cannot launch major new policy. That limits Sweden’s room to act on defence spending and EU decisions until a government takes office.

What Is Not Known

Who will lead the next government remains unclear. Thand Ringqvist’s exploratory talks were continuing as of 25 October, and her report is due on 26 October.

Whether Andersson can revive a centre-left government is uncertain. The bloc has 176 seats, but disagreements over the Left Party’s role have already blocked her.

Whether Kristersson can assemble a viable right-wing government is also unresolved. The Sweden Democrats want a place in government, while Thand Ringqvist rejects working with them.

The date of the next parliamentary vote on a prime minister is not confirmed. It depends on the outcome of the exploratory talks.

Whether the Migration Agency will pause deportations remains open. The agency’s position is not final, and any pause would depend on the legal framework ultimately enacted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is currently prime minister of Sweden?

Kristersson leads the Moderate Party and has held the office since 18 October 2022. His government resigned after the September 2026 election but continues to administer the state.

When is Sweden’s next national election?

The next regular election is due in September 2030. An extra election would be called earlier only if four prime-ministerial votes fail.

What role does the Swedish king play in government formation?

Government formation is assigned to the Riksdag and its speaker, Andreas Norlén, rather than to the monarch. The speaker consults party leaders and proposes a prime ministerial candidate for a parliamentary vote.

Sources: Government Offices of Sweden; Yahoo News: Sweden’s Government Offices block ChatGPT.