Stefan Lofven gets more time for government bid

Stefan Lofven, the leader of the Social Democrats, has been granted more time in his effort to form a new Swedish government, the speaker of parliament announced late Sunday.

Speaker Andreas Norlen had been due Monday to formally propose Lofven as prime minister. A confidence vote would have followed a few days later.

However, Lofven requested more time and the nomination was pushed back to Wednesday, the speaker's office said.

In order to be accepted as prime minister, Lofven must avoid that a majority in parliament - at least 175 legislators - votes against him.

Lofven heads a caretaker government comprising the Social Democrats and the Greens, after he lost a mandatory confidence vote held late September.

The offer to form the next government returned to Lofven after parliament in November rejected a bid by conservative leader Ulf Kristersson. He wanted to form a minority government comprising his conservative Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats.

Kristersson's long-time allies - the Liberals and Centre Party -   declined to be part of his prospective government, and voted against him. They said it would be too reliant on the populist, right-wing Sweden Democrats, who have the swing vote.

At the weekend, Lofven met with his party leadership to discuss demands from the Centre Party and Liberals. They have offered not to block Lofven, in return for concessions on employment rules and tax cuts.

Sweden's general elections on September 9 resulted in a political stalemate between the two main political alliances, led by the Social Democrats and Kristersson's conservatives. Neither bloc has a majority in the 349-seat legislature, complicating the formation of a new government.