Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (R) meets with the Speaker of the Parliament Andreas Norlen, in Stockholm, Sweden January 16, 2019. TT News Agency/Anders Wiklund via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden’s Left Party said on Wednesday it would abstain if the speaker calls for a vote on Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven as prime minister, giving the former welder the numbers he needs to be elected to a second term in a vote on Friday.

Lofven already has the backing of the Centre, Liberals and Greens, in practice ending four months deadlock after a tied election in September.

GRAPHIC - Election scenarios: tmsnrt.rs/2p45tJh