King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has cancelled a planned trip to China because of ongoing problems with forming a government in Sweden.
Since Sweden’s general election in September 2018 the Parliament has not been able to form a government. Therefore, Sweden has been run by a caretaker administration since.
According to The Local, this is the reason why the Swedish King not takes part in a visit to China.
“The reason is Sweden’s situation in regard to government-building. With regard to all overseas trips, we have consultation and dialogue with the foreign ministry and in this case the decision is that the king will not go,” said the Royal Court’s press chief, Margareta Thorgren to The Local.
The visit to China and Hong Kong was arranged by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and takes place between November 25th and December 1st. Dagens Industri was the first to report, that the King did not participate.
The Royal Court’ press chief confirms that the king had carried out multiple overseas trips during the autumn, because they were shorter than the planned trip to China:
“The fact the king isn’t participating in this trip is due to it being very far away and lasting a whole week,” she said.
