Swedish PM Lofven gains sufficient backing to form new government

Berlin, Jul 7 (EFE).- Stefan Lofven was re-elected as Sweden’s prime minister on Wednesday, after he received enough backing in a parliamentary vote.

Last month, Lofven stepped down from his position a week after he lost a vote of confidence following a dispute with the Left Party over housing policy.

Of the 349 lawmakers, 116 voted in favor of Lofven and 173 voted against. In Sweden, premiers need a minimum of 175 votes against them to lose the mandate.

The social democrat took on the forming a new government after the country’s conservative opposition leader, Ulf Kristesson, failed to secure enough votes in parliament to become prime minister.

However, the Lofven administration will be short-lived as general elections are set to take place in Sweden in September 2022.

Lofven, who has been in power since 2014, was the first prime minister in Sweden’s history to be ousted by a confidence vote.EFE

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