Swedish centre-right leader calls on PM Lofven to step down

CAIRO – 10 September 2018: Swedish centre-right opposition leader Ulf Kristersson called on Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to step down on Sunday after preliminary election results showed his opposition Alliance coalition in a virtual dead heat with its centre-left rivals.

"This government has run its course," Kristersson told a party rally, referring to Lofven's minority cabinet.

"Now it should resign."

Kristersson is leader of the Moderates and the four-party centre-right Alliance's candidate for prime minister.

Sunday's election, as expected, showed gains by the unaligned anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, leaving both the centre-right and ruling centre-left party blocs well shy of a majority.