Sweden’s parliament approved finance minister and Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson as the country’s prime minister; however, just hours later she resigned from the position.
New Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has resigned after just a few hours in power. The move comes following a budget defeat in parliament – which voted in favour of the oppositions' budget.
— Sweden.se (@swedense) November 24, 2021
Andersson suffered a defeat in parliament with the budget then she stepped down seven hours after she earned the title of first female prime minister.
The budget proposal that was put forth by the opposition party was passed instead.
”For me, it is about respect, but I also do not want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy,” Andersson said at a press conference.
While the country had never had a female prime minister before Andersson, the government describes itself as feminist, putting equality between women and men at the heart of national and international work. Still many in the country were displeased about the long-running absence of a woman in the nation’s top leadership]roll.
“If women are only allowed to vote but are never elected to the highest office, democracy is not complete,” independent lawmaker Amineh Kakabaveh said in a speech to the country’s parliament.
“There is something symbolic in this decision. Feminism is always about girls and women being complete people who have the same opportunities as men and boys,” she added.
Kakabaveh supported Andersson in her bid to become the nation’s prime minister, citing her efforts as championing “equal suffrage.”
