Swedish PM Stefan Lofven Ousted In Parliament No-Confidence Vote

The nationalist Sweden Democrats had seized the chance to call the vote after the formerly communist Left Party withdrew its governmental support

Sweden's parliament ousted Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a no-confidence vote on Monday, giving the Social Democrat leader a week to resign and hand the speaker the job of finding a new government, or call a snap election. The nationalist Sweden Democrats had seized the chance to call the vote after the formerly communist Left Party withdrew support for the centre-left government over a plan to ease rent controls for new-build apartments. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson told parliament the government was harmful and historically weak, adding: "It should never have come into power." The no-confidence motion, which required 175 votes in the 349-seat parliament to pass, was supported by 181 lawmakers.