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The country’s centre-left Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven was once again rejected by parliament just before Christmas when 200 MPs voted against him becoming prime minister while 116 voted in favour and 28 abstained. The Scandinavian EU member state is now pinning its hopes on resolving the crisis in the New Year when MPs return after a three-week Christmas break. Parliament speaker Andreas Norlen announced he would meet again with party leaders on January 14 and called for a prime minister vote two days later.

An extra election would be a big failure for Swedish politics Andreas Norlen

If that fails, a final and fourth premier vote would then be held on January 23 in a last ditch effort to avoid a new General Election being called. Mr Norlen said: “An extra election would be a big failure for Swedish politics. “There’s a risk that confidence in the system will be seriously damaged.” And the political crisis provides yet another New Year headache for European Union bosses who, aside from trying to plan for the chaos of a no-deal Brexit, are also fighting fires in Italy, Poland, Austria and Hungary.

Stefan Löfven has been unable to form a government since September elections

Stefan Löfven, Ulf Kristersson and Jimmie Åkesson

Sweden has been without a government since the the election on September 9 after which Mr Lofven was voted out as prime minister following four years in office. He handed in his resignation but was asked by the speaker to stay on to oversee the country’s administration. The candidacy of Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson was also rejected by a parliamentary vote on November 14. September’s general election gave neither the centre-left nor the centre-right a majority, leaving the balance of power with the Sweden Democrats, a hard-right anti-immigration party led by populist newcomer Jimmie Åkesson, who mainstream groups refuse to deal with.

Stefan Löfven was rejected by 200 MPs

Ulf Kristersson also failed in his bid for prime minister