Sweden’s PM Kristersson resigns after left-wing wins slim majority in election

Sweden’s conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced his resignation on Thursday after the left-wing opposition won a slim majority in parliament in the country’s general election.“It is now the speaker of parliament who will lead the next steps on the path towards forming a new government. In order for this work to begin immediately, I hereby request to be relieved of my duties as prime minister,” Kristersson said in a letter to the speaker which he posted to social media.The four parties in the left-wing bloc, led by Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democrats, hold a three-seat majority in the 349-seat parliament over Kristersson’s right-wing alliance, which includes the anti-immigration Sweden-democrats" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="9626" data-entity-type="organization">Sweden Democrats.But only around 50,000 votes separated the two sides in the country of 10.6 million people.“The Swedish people have voted for a new direction for our country. Voted for unity and against division,” Andersson said in a speech posted to social media shortly after Kristersson announced his resignation.She added that the people “have voted to move Sweden forward, and I want to realise the new direction that you have voted for”.With the opposition deeply splintered over ideological differences, Andersson’s negotiating skills will be put to the test to unite the bloc, made up of the Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Greens Party and the Centre Party.