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Three possible scenarios after the elections

Elections to the Riksdag were held on 13 September 2026. But what happens after the elections? Below follow three possible scenarios for what could arise after the elections this autumn.

The citizens vote for the candidates that they want to represent them in the Riksdag. The Riksdag then chooses the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, in turn, appoints the government ministers. How this is done and when various steps in the formation of a new government actually take place depend on the election result.  

The election result is preliminary until the votes have been re-counted, which takes about a week. However, the Prime Minister can announce in the days following the election whether he intends to remain in office or to resign, based on the preliminary election result.

Below follow three possible scenarios that could arise after the elections.

Scenario 1: The Prime Minister remains in office and the Riksdag votes in favour of the Prime Minister

Based on the preliminary election result, the Prime Minister believes that the present Government still has the support of the Riksdag and chooses to remain in office. 

The Riksdag then holds a vote on the Prime Minister, no later than two weeks after the newly elected Riksdag has met for the first time. This can be done on 29 September at the earliest. 

At the Riksdag's vote on the Prime Minister, fewer than half of the members of the Riksdag vote against the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister therefore remains in office and forms a government.
He visits the Chamber where he reads the Statement of Government Policy and informs the Riksdag of which ministers will form the Government. This can also be done on 29 September at the earliest.

Scenario 2: The Prime Minister resigns

The preliminary result of the elections indicates that the present Government no longer has the support of the Riksdag and the Prime Minister therefore chooses to resign.

The Speaker then starts the task of preparing a proposal for a new Prime Minister. The Speaker holds talks with all the party leaders and then proposes a candidate for Prime Minister.

If the Riksdag has chosen a new Speaker, he or she takes over the process of forming a government, and presents a proposal for a new Prime Minister to the Riksdag. 

The Riksdag votes on the Speaker's proposal. If more than half of the members of the Riksdag vote against the proposal, it is rejected. Otherwise, the proposal is approved. If the proposal is rejected, the Speaker must talk to the party leaders again and present a new proposal. 

The Speaker has four opportunities to do this. If no proposal for a new Prime Minister obtains enough support in the Riksdag, extraordinary elections must be held within three months. Extraordinary elections are very unusual and have only been held once in Sweden.

Scenario 3: The Prime Minister remains in office and the Riksdag votes against the Prime Minister

Based on the preliminary election result, the Prime Minister believes that the present Government has the support of the Riksdag and chooses to remain in office.

The Riksdag holds a vote on the Prime Minister, and this can be done on Tuesday 29 September at the earliest. At Riksdag's vote on the Prime Minister, more than half of the members of the Riksdag vote against the Prime Minister.

The Speaker must then discharge the Prime Minister. After this, the Speaker begins the same talks with the party leaders as in scenario 2 and the Riksdag then adopts a position on the Speaker’s proposal in a vote.

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