Sweden's center-left opposition wins election as Prime Minister Kristersson resigns

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced his resignation on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after his right-wing bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the general election held on September 13. The center-left opposition secured a narrow victory, with preliminary results indicating they won 176 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag, compared to 173 for the outgoing government's bloc.

The election outcome, which saw the left-leaning opposition gain a slim majority, marks a significant shift in Swedish politics. Public broadcaster SVT reported the center-left's victory on Wednesday, September 16, after 99% of the votes were counted, with the final tally confirming the opposition's lead.

This result paves the way for the formation of a new government, likely led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson, who served as Prime Minister previously. Kristersson's resignation allows the Speaker of the Riksdag to immediately begin the process of forming a new government.