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| Sweden’s Prime Minister Loses No-Confidence Vote | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| STOCKHOLM — Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden lost a vote of confidence on Tuesday after an election this month stripped him of his majority and left the country with a hung Parliament, with both main political blocs refusing to cooperate with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats. | STOCKHOLM — Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden lost a vote of confidence on Tuesday after an election this month stripped him of his majority and left the country with a hung Parliament, with both main political blocs refusing to cooperate with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats. |
| Mr. Lofven, the leader of the Social Democratic Party who has been prime minister for four years, will continue in a caretaker role until the formation of a new government that has the command of Parliament. | Mr. Lofven, the leader of the Social Democratic Party who has been prime minister for four years, will continue in a caretaker role until the formation of a new government that has the command of Parliament. |
| Lawmakers voted 204 to 142 against Mr. Lofven, while three abstained, after the election on Sept. 9 in which neither the left-leaning bloc led by the Social Democrats nor the Moderates-led center-right opposition managed to secure a majority. The no-confidence vote was mandatory. | Lawmakers voted 204 to 142 against Mr. Lofven, while three abstained, after the election on Sept. 9 in which neither the left-leaning bloc led by the Social Democrats nor the Moderates-led center-right opposition managed to secure a majority. The no-confidence vote was mandatory. |
| Mr. Lofven says he is still optimistic that he can form a government, but with neither bloc holding a majority and neither willing to work with the Sweden Democrats, the vote means Sweden faces weeks of political uncertainty. | Mr. Lofven says he is still optimistic that he can form a government, but with neither bloc holding a majority and neither willing to work with the Sweden Democrats, the vote means Sweden faces weeks of political uncertainty. |
| The Social Democrats got 28.3 percent of the vote, while the Moderate Party received 19.8 percent. The Sweden Democrats, which made great strides, picked up 17.5 percent. The center-left controls 144 seats and the center-right holds 143 seats in Parliament, while the Sweden Democrats have 62 lawmakers in the assembly. | The Social Democrats got 28.3 percent of the vote, while the Moderate Party received 19.8 percent. The Sweden Democrats, which made great strides, picked up 17.5 percent. The center-left controls 144 seats and the center-right holds 143 seats in Parliament, while the Sweden Democrats have 62 lawmakers in the assembly. |
| Andreas Norlen, a member of the center-right Moderates, was elected on Monday as speaker and was tasked with trying to find a member of Parliament who could command a majority and form a government. Mr. Norlen alone holds the authority to determine which of the party leaders can begin such talks. | Andreas Norlen, a member of the center-right Moderates, was elected on Monday as speaker and was tasked with trying to find a member of Parliament who could command a majority and form a government. Mr. Norlen alone holds the authority to determine which of the party leaders can begin such talks. |
| Alternatively, one of the blocs could form a minority government, but doing so needs cooperation from at least some members of the opposition, and in many cases requires concessions, too. | Alternatively, one of the blocs could form a minority government, but doing so needs cooperation from at least some members of the opposition, and in many cases requires concessions, too. |
| Mr. Lofven remained optimistic he could form a governing coalition but stopped short of saying with whom. “I am available for talks,” Lofven said after the vote of no confidence. | Mr. Lofven remained optimistic he could form a governing coalition but stopped short of saying with whom. “I am available for talks,” Lofven said after the vote of no confidence. |
| Mr. Lofven ruled out having any contacts with the Sweden Democrats, however, saying “time after time, their connections to racist and Nazi organizations have been exposed.” | Mr. Lofven ruled out having any contacts with the Sweden Democrats, however, saying “time after time, their connections to racist and Nazi organizations have been exposed.” |