Ulf Kristersson elected Sweden’s new prime minister

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Sweden’s parliament on Monday elected Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson as the country’s new prime minister.

A total of 176 members of the Riksdag voted in favor of Kristersson, while 173 members voted against him.

He will be leading a three-party coalition government with the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.

The right-wing bloc won a slim majority in last month's election over the ruling Social Democrats government and its left-wing bloc by securing 176 seats in a 349-member parliament.

Far-right Sweden Democrats will not be a part of the government, however, Kristersson said in a press conference last week that "he will cooperate closely with the Sweden Democrats."