Löfven faces tough challenge to form new government

sydsvenskan.se

Löfven faces tough challenge to form new government

The red-green bloc gained a larger percentage of votes than the centre-right Alliance, and Fredrik Reinfeldt leaves power. "I am prepared to build a government that is able to act", says Social Democrat leader, Stefan Löfven. The Sweden Democrats had a successful election, becoming the third-largest party, and are now set to hold the balance of power.

Published 15 september 2014 11:03 · Updated 15 September 2014

Translated and processed by: Bryan RalphBy: TT

The Election Authority’s preliminary election results on Monday morning showed that the three red-green parties had a larger percentage of votes (43.7 %) than the Alliance (39.3 %).

At 23.20 on Sunday evening, Fredrik Reinfeldt announced his resignation in an emotional speech at the Moderate’s election night party.

–The election is over. The Swedish people have made their decision. These have been fantastic year’s in which the Alliance has taken responsibility for Sweden.

He also announced that he would be leaving his post as leader of the Moderate Party.

The Election Authority’s preliminary distribution of mandates confirms that SD will hold the balance of power (12.9 %) and that Feminist Initiative with 3.1 % of the votes did not get over the threshold for seats in parliament.

Consequently, the Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven has the job of forming a new government, a task that can be very difficult.

–We are fully prepared to build a government that is able to act for Sweden and therefore I will take the options that exist in different ways – but not with the Sweden Democrats, says Social Democrat Leader Stefan Löfven to TT, in his first interview since the election result.