Carlsson's 22-member cabinet, which replaces a center-right coalition, is the first in Swedish history with equal distribution of men and women. Sweden also has the parliament with the biggest representation of women in the West. Forty-one percent of the 349-member assembly are women.
The most prominent women in the cabinet are Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen and Deputy Prime Minister Mona Sahlin, 37, who is credited with livening up the 59-year-old Carlsson's stuffy image.
In a speech to parliament, the new prime minister said the government's main task will be to shrink the huge budget deficit and reduce unemployment, now at about 13 percent.
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