Sweden’s Lofven faces defeat in PM vote

Bloomberg

Swedish Social Democratic leader Stefan Lofven is now facing a defeat in a potential prime minister vote after an attempt at forging a broader coalition failed.
After a week of talks, the opposition Center Party rejected forming a government with the Social Democrats, throwing
negotiations wide open again three months after the Nordic nation’s inconclusive election that saw big gains by a nationalist party.
The Center Party worked “day and night” and is “disappointed” that the Social
Democrats weren’t willing to compromise enough, leader Annie Loof said at a press conference. The “differences are still too big,” she said.
The decision means a potential parliament vote on Lofven will be put off, the speaker’s office said in a statement. Talks with the party leaders will now be held over the next “few days” after which a decision will be made on the next step, the speaker said.
Sweden is at an impasse and needs three more votes in parliament before a new election can be held. Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson last month lost his bid to form a narrow conservative government after the Center and Liberal parties balked at backing a government that relies on support from the nationalists.
As government talks founder, the nation also faces a vote on next year’s budget. The Center Party let it be known on Monday that it aims to vote for its own plan on Wednesday and will then abstain in other votes, suggesting a spending plan from the conservative Moderates and Christian Democrats is likely to pass. The care-taker government headed by the
Social Democrats has also proposed a budget.
But uncertainty remains since the Liberals are still undecided on which way they will go on both the budget vote and the prime minister process, party leader Jan Bjorklund said in a tweet. A decision will be made on Tuesday. The Liberals have the potential to also push the government’s transition budget over the finish line.