Sweden's sidelined PM gets chance to form new government

16/10/2018 0:53

        Sweden's prime minister has been tasked with forming a new government after his center-right rival was unable to reach a Cabinet deal. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has been leading a caretaker government since he did not survive a no-confidence vote by lawmakers following last month's election. Parliament speaker Andreas Norlen gave Lofven on Monday two weeks to form a coalition. Neither the left-leaning bloc led by Lofven's Social Democrats nor the center-right opposition bloc led by Ulf Kristersson of the Moderates secured a majority in Sweden's 349-seat parliament during the Sept. 9 election. Both blocs have refused to cooperate with the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats party that made great strides in the election. Lofven urged potential partner parties on Monday to be willing to make compromises.