No discernible progress in Swedish government crisis

After the fall of the Swedish government, there are no signs yet whether Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will opt for resignation or new elections.

These two options are on the table for the Social Democrat after a majority in the parliament in Stockholm expressed no confidence in him on Monday. Lofven now has one week to choose between these two options.

The newspaper Expressen wrote on Tuesday, citing sources within the party, that there was a lot of support in the Social Democratic party leadership for opting for the alternative of a new election.

If Lofven decides to call a new election, it must take place within three months.

Due to the lead time and the fact that elections in Sweden take place on Sundays, there is speculation about a 26 September date, which would coincide with the Bundestag elections in Germany.

Lofven has governed Sweden since 2014, leading a centre-left and Green minority government that entered into an agreement to cooperate with the Centre Party and the Liberals in early 2019 after tough negotiations.

Support from the left

He also relied on support from the left, but they, together with the right-wing conservative camp, brought him down in the vote of no confidence on Monday.

Lofven had then announced his intention to hold talks with the parties with which his Social Democrats cooperate.

Green co-leader and Equality Minister Marta Stenevi told broadcaster SVT on Tuesday that her party was ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the Social Democrats, the Left and the Centre Party on a new agreement.

"I think it would be worth such an attempt," she said