Sweden's Acting Prime Minister Agrees To Be Nominated For Office

Acting Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Monday that he has agreed to present his candidacy for the office, after another nominee refused the offer over a lack of support

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th July, 2021) Acting Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Monday that he has agreed to present his candidacy for the office, after another nominee refused the offer over a lack of support.

"I have agreed to be nominated for the post of prime minister," Lofven said, as broadcast by the state-run Sveriges Radio.

Lofven, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, had served as Swedish prime minister since 2014. On June 21, the Swedish parliament voted to unseat him in a historic vote of no confidence in a dispute with the Left Party over rent control on housing.

A week later, Lofven announced his resignation.

Andreas Norlen, the parliament's speaker, entrusted Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party, to form a new government. However, Norlen returned to Lofven after Kristersson failed to gain enough support. The parliament will vote on Lofven's candidacy on Wednesday. If it fails to approve a new head of government four times in a row, Sweden will call snap parliamentary elections.