Swedish PM voted out by Parliament
STOCKHOLM: Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a no-confidence vote in Parliament yesterday and will step down after four years in power, but with neither major political bloc holding a majority it remained unclear who will form the next government.
Voters delivered a hung parliament in the Sept 9 election with Lofven’s centreleft bloc garnering 144 seats, one more than the centre-right opposition Alliance.
The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, with 62 seats and shunned by all parties since entering Parliament in 2010, backed the Alliance in the vote — an obligatory test of the prime minister’s parliamentary support after an election.
Analysts expect the speaker to pick Ulf Kristersson, leader of the biggest Alliance party, the Moderates, to try to form a new administration.
But lacking a majority, he needs support either from the Sweden Democrats, with roots in the white supremacist fringe, or the centre left.
“If the Alliance parties choose to try to govern as the smallest bloc, then they make themselves totally dependent on the Sweden Democrats,” Lofven said.
The speaker has four attempts at finding a new government and if the stalemate continues, Sweden will hold another election within three months.
Lofven will lead a transition government until a new administration is installed.