Löfven was elected prime minister just nine days after his resignation, following a vote of no confidence. He can now form a red-green minority government again. “The Riksdag has given me the confidence to continue to lead Sweden,” the 63-year-old politician said after the vote. “It simply came to our notice then. I take the task on my shoulders with determination and respect, ”added Löfven. At the same time, however, he made it clear that political problems were far from the table. According to him, the situation in the parliament remains very difficult.
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This was also shown by Wednesday’s vote. Löfven won the prime minister’s position, although only 116 of the 349 deputies supported him and 60 abstained. It was enough that only 173 deputies were against. Only a majority of 175 negative votes could prevent him from returning to the head of government.
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Löfven, which has ruled since 2014, is due to introduce a new cabinet on Friday. His current government two weeks ago had a constant dispute with the Left Party over rent deregulation, and Löfven had become the first Swedish prime minister to be distrusted by parliament.
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Löfven resigned early last week, making his cabinet a caretaker government and beginning the search for a new prime minister. The leader of the opposition Moderate Coalition Party, Ulf Kristersson, was the first to get this chance, but he gave up his attempt to form a government. Then it was Löfven’s turn again. His Social Democrats and the Greens voted for him on Wednesday. It will bring together a close parliamentary minority only with the help of the Left Party and the Center Party, whose members abstained today.
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Löfven faced criticism over the uncontrolled coronavirus pandemic because the country did not take harsh measures, leading to more casualties than the neighboring Scandinavian state.
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