Stefan Lofven, Sweden's prime minister, has resigned a week after becoming the country's first leader to lose a no-confidence vote.

Instead of calling a snap election, the Social Democrat leader requested the country's parliament speaker to begin the search for a replacement.&nbsp;

He told a press conference a snap election was "not what is best for Sweden," pointing to the difficult situation the Covid-19 pandemic posed, coupled with the fact that the next general election is a year away.

"With that starting point, I have requested the speaker to relieve me as prime minister," Lofven said. 
 
In parliament, the center-left and center-right blocs are presently evenly balanced, and opinion polls suggest that a general election would not change the situation.

Given the challenging Covid-19 position and the fact that the next general election is only a year away, Lofven said a snap&nbsp;election was "not what is best for Sweden."&nbsp;

Lofven, a 63-year-old former welder and union leader with a boxer's square build and nose, led the Swedish left back to power in 2014 and then stuck to power by bringing his party closer to the centre following the 2018 elections.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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Stefan Lofven, Sweden's prime minister, has resigned a week after becoming the country's first leader to lose a no-confidence vote. Instead of calling a snap election, the Social Democrat leader requested the country's parliament speaker to begin the search for a replacement.

Stefan Lofven, Sweden's prime minister, has resigned a week after becoming the country's first leader to lose a no-confidence vote. Instead of calling a snap election, the Social Democrat leader requested the country's parliament speaker to begin the search for a replacement. He told a press conference a snap election was "not what is best for Sweden," pointing to the difficult situation the Covid-19 pandemic posed, coupled with the fact that the next general election is a year away. "With that starting point, I have requested the speaker to relieve me as prime minister," Lofven said. In parliament, the center-left and center-right blocs are presently evenly balanced, and opinion polls suggest that a general election would not change the situation. Given the challenging Covid-19 position and the fact that the next general election is only a year away, Lofven said a snap election was "not what is best for Sweden." Lofven, a 63-year-old former welder and union leader with a boxer's square build and nose, led the Swedish left back to power in 2014 and then stuck to power by bringing his party closer to the centre following the 2018 elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven resigns after losing no-confidence vote

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday and will step down after four years in power, but with neither major political bloc holding a majority it remained unclear who will form the next government.

Voters delivered a hung parliament in the September 9 election with Lofven's centre-left bloc garnering 144 seats, one more than the centre-right opposition Alliance.

The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, with 62 seats and shunned by all parties since entering parliament in 2010, backed the Alliance in the vote - an obligatory test of the prime minister's parliamentary support after an election.

Analysts expect the speaker to pick Ulf Kristersson, leader of the biggest Alliance party, the Moderates, to try to form a new administration.

But lacking a majority, he needs support either from the Sweden Democrats, with roots in the white supremacist fringe, or the centre left.

"If the Alliance parties choose to try to govern as the smallest bloc, then they make themselves totally dependent on the Sweden Democrats," Lofven said.

Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson repeated on Tuesday his party wanted a say in policy as the price of supporting a new government.

"We will do everything in our power to stop any attempt to form a government, do everything to bring down every government, which does not give us a reasonable influence in proportion to our electoral support," Akesson said.

The Alliance of the Moderates, Centre, Liberal and Christian Democrats has said it will not negotiate with the Sweden Democrats, who want to freeze immigration and have called for a new vote on membership of the European Union.

Lofven ruled out backing an Alliance government, leaving politics deadlocked.

"I want to continue to lead the country as prime minister," he said.

"I want to lead a government that has broader support in the country's parliament and that allows us to leave stalemate of bloc politics."

The speaker has four goes at finding a new government and if the stalemate continues, Sweden will hold another election within three months.

With a new vote unlikely to change the situation much, some kind of compromise is likely to be thrashed out.

A number of party combinations have been suggested, but all would have a heavy political cost and a deal is could take weeks.

Lofven will lead a transition government until a new administration is installed.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday and will step down after four years in power, but with neither major political bloc holding a majority it remained unclear who will form the next government.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven lost a no-confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday and will step down after four years in power, but with neither major political bloc holding a majority it remained unclear who will form the next government. Voters delivered a hung parliament in the September 9 election with Lofven's centre-left bloc garnering 144 seats, one more than the centre-right opposition Alliance. The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, with 62 seats and shunned by all parties since entering parliament in 2010, backed the Alliance in the vote - an obligatory test of the prime minister's parliamentary support after an election. Analysts expect the speaker to pick Ulf Kristersson, leader of the biggest Alliance party, the Moderates, to try to form a new administration. But lacking a majority, he needs support either from the Sweden Democrats, with roots in the white supremacist fringe, or the centre left. "If the Alliance parties choose to try to govern as the smallest bloc, then they make themselves totally dependent on the Sweden Democrats," Lofven said. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson repeated on Tuesday his party wanted a say in policy as the price of supporting a new government. "We will do everything in our power to stop any attempt to form a government, do everything to bring down every government, which does not give us a reasonable influence in proportion to our electoral support," Akesson said. The Alliance of the Moderates, Centre, Liberal and Christian Democrats has said it will not negotiate with the Sweden Democrats, who want to freeze immigration and have called for a new vote on membership of the European Union. Lofven ruled out backing an Alliance government, leaving politics deadlocked. "I want to continue to lead the country as prime minister," he said. "I want to lead a government that has broader support in the country's parliament and that allows us to leave stalemate of bloc politics." The speaker has four goes at finding a new government and if the stalemate continues, Sweden will hold another election within three months. With a new vote unlikely to change the situation much, some kind of compromise is likely to be thrashed out. A number of party combinations have been suggested, but all would have a heavy political cost and a deal is could take weeks. Lofven will lead a transition government until a new administration is installed.

Swedish PM Lofven voted out by parliament, new government unclear

Sweden Tuesday backed India's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as it welcomed New Delhi's recent accession to the international export control regimes, including Wassenaar Arrangement and Missile Technology Control Regime.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven expressed his country's support to India during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Stockholm.

India's membership to the 48-member elite nuclear club is being primarily opposed by China on the pretext that it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.&nbsp

Out of the four export control regimes that work to keep proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in check, India is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group.&nbsp

"Prime Minister Lofven welcomed India's recent accession to the international export control regimes, including to Australia Group (AG), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), and expressed support for India's membership of the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG)," according to Sweden-India Joint Action Plan.

Sweden also extended support to India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council.&nbsp

Prime Minister Modi thanked his Swedish counterpart for Sweden's support to India.

Sweden Tuesday backed India's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as it welcomed New Delhi's recent accession to the international export control regimes, including Wassenaar Arrangement and Missile Technology Control Regime

Sweden Tuesday backed India's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as it welcomed New Delhi's recent accession to the international export control regimes, including Wassenaar Arrangement and Missile Technology Control Regime. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven expressed his country's support to India during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Stockholm. India's membership to the 48-member elite nuclear club is being primarily opposed by China on the pretext that it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Out of the four export control regimes that work to keep proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in check, India is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. "Prime Minister Lofven welcomed India's recent accession to the international export control regimes, including to Australia Group (AG), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), and expressed support for India's membership of the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG)," according to Sweden-India Joint Action Plan. Sweden also extended support to India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister Modi thanked his Swedish counterpart for Sweden's support to India.

Sweden supports India's bid for NSG membership