Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced on Monday that he is retiring following a failed vote of confidence last week.
Lofven, who has led the country since 2014 and is also the head of the Social Democratic Party, said he is giving authority to the Swedish parliamentary speaker to form a new government, rather than holding an early election, which he has the power to do under the country’s Constitution, The Associated Press reported.
The prime minister had until Monday at midnight to step down or set up a snap election following the lost confidence vote on June 21, according to Reuters.
“I have requested to be dismissed as prime minister,” Lofven said during a news conference, according to Reuters.
“It is the most difficult political decision I have ever taken,” he added.
Andreas Norlen, who has served as parliamentary speaker since 2018, will have four tries to find a new prime minister that has enough support from parliament, according to Reuters.
If he fails at all four attempts, a snap election must occur, the wire service noted.
“With one year left until the election, and an ongoing pandemic, a snap election is not the best thing for Sweden,” Lofven said, according to Reuters.
“We can’t use our time for political games,” he added.
The nationalist Sweden Democrats party called for the confidence vote against Lofven, according to the AP. The party has for years been critical of the Social Democratic Party.
The effort succeeded this time, however, because the Left Party pulled its support from the government because of proposed legislation to address a housing shortage, according to the AP.
The final vote was 181 to 109 against Lofven, with 51 abstentions, according to the wire service.
The next Swedish general election is scheduled for Sept. 11. The AP noted, however, that the current situation in Sweden seems deadlocked, with a number of parties vying for control with differing aspirations.