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Sweden's first female prime minister resigns within hours of being appointed

The move comes following a budget defeat in parliament, the government of Sweden announced.

Published: November 25, 2021 11:30am

Updated: November 25, 2021 11:39am

The first female prime minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, resigned on Wednesday a few hours after she was appointed, and before she fully took office.

"New Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has resigned after just a few hours in power," the government of Sweden announced Nov. 24 on Twitter. "The move comes following a budget defeat in parliament – which voted in favour of the oppositions' budget."

Officials announced earlier on Wednesday that Andersson had been appointed as leader, making her the country's first woman to assume the role. Her coalition partner, the Green Party, then exited the coalition with Andersson's Social Democrat party, officials said. Members of parliament then voted to approve a budget that was favored by the opposition. 

"I have told the speaker that I wish to resign," Andersson told reporters.

She had not yet fully assumed office, and had not met with Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, according to reports.

"The current government will remain as an interim government until a new government is in place," the Swedish government wrote on Twitter.

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