Sweden’s government toppled after PM Stefan Lofven loses no confidence vote

The prime minister now has a week to either announce a snap election or resign

Sweden’s political crisis was triggered by a project to reform rent controls, potentially allowing landlords to freely set rentals for new apartments

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Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speaks to the media after losing a vote of no confidence in his government. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:53pm, 21 Jun 2021

Sweden’s government was toppled on Monday after Stefan Lofven became the country’s first prime minister to lose a no-confidence vote, meaning he can now either resign or trigger a snap election.

The motion of no confidence passed with a majority of 181 MPs in the 349-seat parliament.

It was filed on Thursday by the far right Sweden Democrats (SD), after the Left Party, which has propped up the government, announced it was planning to seek support for such a motion itself in protest against a government project to ease rent controls.

The conservative Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats quickly announced their support for the move, thereby securing the necessary majority.

Critics have described the constellation as an “unholy alliance” of parties at opposite sides of the political spectrum.

After 11 unsuccessful no-confidence votes in modern Swedish political history, Lofven, who has previously distinguished himself by his ability to survive political crises, becomes the first head of government to be ousted in this way.