Lofven steps off and paves the way for Sweden’s 1st female PM
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) – Stefan Lofven resigned on Wednesday as Sweden’s Prime Minister, which paved the way for his replacement as leader of the Social Democratic Party to become Sweden’s first female head of government.
Lofven will continue as acting prime minister until a new government is formed, said Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlen. Norlen is expected to ask Minister of Finance Magdalena Andersson if she can get support in the 349-seat Riksdag to form a cabinet.
“It has been seven fantastic years, and I am very proud that as a working boy I have had the privilege of leading our country during these years,” Lofven said during a press conference.
No time frame for a new cabinet was announced. According to the Swedish constitution, prime ministers can govern as long as a parliamentary majority – at least 175 legislators – is not against them.
Andersson, 54, was elected to lead the Social Democrats during their regular party congress on November 4, Lofven, 63, announced in August that he was resigning from the post.
The current Social Democratic-Green governing coalition hopes to secure Andersson’s confirmation as prime minister with the support of two smaller parties. Sweden has a parliamentary election canceled next year.
Lofven, who has been in office since 2014, became the first Swedish prime minister to lose a vote of confidence in the Riksdag in June. But the country avoided a quick election when he could later form a coalition government with the same partners as his predecessors.
The Social Democrats currently hold 100 of the Riksdag’s 349 seats.
