Swedish premier resigns after left-wing bloc wins election

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson submitted his resignation Thursday to the parliament speaker after preliminary election results showed the left-wing opposition bloc secured a majority in the parliament.

The left-wing opposition led by Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson won 176 seats in the 349-member parliament, compared with 173 seats for the four parties supporting Kristersson's government -- the Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals.

The opposition also won the election by a margin of 50,359 votes, according to preliminary results cited by public broadcaster SVT.

Kristersson announced that he had requested to be relieved of his duties as prime minister shortly after the votes were counted.

"The election result may have created complicated conditions for the formation of the next government, as the parties' different statements before election day could constitute obstacles to all conceivable government formations and coalitions," Kristersson wrote in a letter to the speaker.

He said the process of finding a prime minister who can secure the support or tolerance of the parliament would require "constructive openness" from the parties represented in parliament.

"In order for that work to begin immediately, I hereby request to be relieved of my duties as Prime Minister," he wrote.

The resignation opens the way for the speaker to begin consultations with political parties on forming a new government.

Kristersson and the other Cabinet ministers will remain in office until a new government takes office.

The election leaves the opposition with three more seats than the parties that have supported Kristersson's government, but the formation of the next government could depend on negotiations among the parties in parliament.