Swedish premier Stefan Lofven steps down

By Atila Altuntas

STOCKHOLM (AA) - Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven resigned on Wednesday, putting finance minister Magdalena Andersson on track to be the country's first woman prime minister.

The 64-year-old submitted his resignation to parliament speaker Andreas Norlen, who will now consult with representatives of party groups to propose a new head of government.

Lofven stepped down as leader of the Social Democrats at the party's congress in Gothenburg last week.

The former trade union head took the reins of the party in 2012, and led it to two successful elections in 2014 and 2018. He lost a confidence motion in June, but was able to form a coalition government again.

Last week, the Social Democrats, who hold 100 of parliament’s 349 seats, elected Andersson, 54, as the new head of the party.

To become the country's first female prime minister, she would require support in the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) from coalition partners the Green Party as well as the Left and Centre parties.

Elections in the Nordic country are less than a year away, in September 2022. A vote is held every four years to elect a unicameral assembly.

*Writing by Merve Berker