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Midsummer crisis in Sweden | 20 comments (20 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (4.00 / 3)
Today the PM has officially handed in his resignation and the speaker will lead rounds to try to find an acceptable PM. The alternative was for the PM to call extra elections within three months.

The rules are the same as after an ordinary election. The speaker suggests PM candidates to parliament. If less then a majority votes against, he or she is elected. So it could be one vote for, 174 votes against and 174 abstaining and we would have a new PM.

In practical terms it is Ulf Kristersson from the Moderates that is the opposition candidate, and current PM Löfven from the Social Democrats, that are the two candidates. With the Liberals shifting over to right-wing with support of far right, and if the parties line up and whip all MPs, and the two independents (one former liberla, one former left) vote as expected, then it should end up as 174 for Kristersson and 175 against, while if Löfven can finalise negotiations with the Center party without the Liberals he should get 175 for and 174 against.

If parliament votes down four candidates in a row, there are automatic new elections. The cabinet stays on as caretaker government until a new one is formed.

by fjallstrom on Mon Jun 28th, 2021 at 10:16:37 AM EST
Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (none / 1)
One small item in the American system that seems to work fairly well is the requirement that the president get an absolute majority in the electoral college. That has pretty much squelched third parties, which some argue is bad. But it has also allowed us to maintain a 4 year regular term length even in some pretty chaotic situations, which seems to be good on the balance.
by asdf on Mon Jun 28th, 2021 at 01:45:52 PM EST
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Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (4.00 / 3)
In the US, wouldn't a more similar situation to the current situation where the executive isn't having enough support in the legislative, be a politically motivated impeachment? Whereas here the parliament can simply vote out the executive. Of course, that comes down to the issue of parliamentarism.

In general, I think the negative majority works pretty well in the system, in particular in combination with the budget with the most votes is passed, preventing budget stand-offs. The main problem now is the combination of a fractured political landscape and the liberal parties refusal to negotiate with the Left party.

On the local and regional level there is much less problems in forming coalitions despite results that were often similar to the national.

by fjallstrom on Mon Jun 28th, 2021 at 05:19:11 PM EST
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Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (none / 1)
It is quite difficult to impeach and convict the US president. You need to get 2/3 of the senate to go along, and it is pretty unlikely that you would get 2/3 of senators in party A at the same time as a president in party B.
by asdf on Tue Jun 29th, 2021 at 09:48:59 PM EST
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Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (4.00 / 3)
In the US what tends to happen when the Presidency and the Congressional majority are controlled by different parties is legislative gridlock - especially when Republican's control Congress. Obama wasn't allowed do anything after the Affordable Care act as he lost Congress after his first two years. Democrats tend to be more amenable to compromise or selling out depending on your point of view.

Index of Frank's Diaries
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Mon Jun 28th, 2021 at 06:31:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Midsummer crisis in Sweden (4.00 / 3)
In truth I believe that Obama was RELIEVED to have lost control of Congress. Had he been concerned he could have taken his vaunted campaign machine out of moth balls for the midterms.


"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Jun 29th, 2021 at 03:41:23 AM EST
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Midsummer crisis in Sweden | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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