Sweden elects right-wing prime minister, far-right backs for first time

Christerson, 58, was elected with a very thin majority of three votes after announcing a deal on Friday to form a ruling coalition comprised of his Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals.

“I am grateful and delighted for the trust we have received from Congress, and I am quite humbled in front of the task ahead of us,” Christerson said at a post-voting press conference on Monday.

The Swedish Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the September 11 general election.

The right-wing camp currently holds 176 seats in parliament, while the left-wing camp has 173 seats.

“Sweden is a country facing multiple crises at the same time,” Christersson said.

“It doesn’t matter what the government looks like, it matters what the government does,” he said.

“We are ready to support the new government … because through negotiations we have confirmed that it will do enough to reverse this trend,” he said.

– gang violence –

Although the quartet has presented a united front, its constituent parties have traditionally differed in many important policy areas.

A major theme of the campaign was Sweden’s struggle to combat a surge in gang shootings.

The roadmap calls for physical examinations in some disadvantaged areas, harsher sentences for repeat offenders, double sentencing for certain crimes, and anonymous witnesses.

The Liberal Party’s support is also vital to Kristersson’s survival, as tensions are rising within the Liberal Party, as the Swedish Democratic Party played a major role in the four-party deal.

Some members of the Liberal Party, including the party’s Youth League, urged MPs to vote against Christerson on Monday, but that did not materialize.

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first published as Sweden elects right-wing prime minister, far-right backs for first time