Lofven presents his new minority government in Sweden

COPENHAGEN – Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven on Monday presented his two-party, centre-left minority government that has ended a four-month political deadlock.

Lofven, approved by parliament last week, lined up a 21-member government, made up of 17 members of Lofven’s own Social Democratic Party and four from the Greens, and makes minor changes to his outgoing government.

It marked a comeback for former Interior Minister Anders Ygeman, who became energy and digitalization minister.

Last year, Ygeman — a senior Social Democrat — was forced to resign after a major security leak in 2015. He was blamed for incompetence and delaying the release of information about the leak, which allowed IT workers abroad to access confidential information in Sweden’s government and police database.

For months, Swedish politicians have been trying to form a government without the Sweden Democrats party, which has neo-Nazi roots. It is the third-largest Swedish party since making great strides in the Sept. 9 national election.

Parliament vote Friday in favour of Lofven, who heads Sweden’s largest party but has no majority. To stay in power, Lofven must retain support from two centre-right parties and the Left Party.