Sweden’s parliament on Wednesday elected Social Democratic party leader and current Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson as the country’s first woman prime minister after she clinched a last-minute deal securing key support.
Andersson will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Stefan Lofven after a total of 117 members of parliament voted for her, while 57 abstained, 174 voted against and one was absent.
Under Sweden’s system, a prime ministerial candidate does not need the support of a majority in parliament, they just need to not have a majority or 175 votes against them.
The 54-year-old, who took over as leader of the Social Democrats earlier this month, reached a deal with the Left Party late on Tuesday to raise pensions in exchange for its backing in Wednesday’s vote.
She had previously received the support of the Social Democrats’ coalition partner the Greens, as well as the Centre Party.
However, Andersson faced her first setback even before her election on Wednesday.
