Braving outrage, Swedish liberal Loof dumps partners to block populists

FILE PHOTO: Annie Loof of the Centre Party after a party leader debate in SVT, Swedish national public TV broadcaster, in Stockholm, Sweden September 7, 2018. TT News Agency/Stina Stjernkvist via REUTERS/File Photo.

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Annie Loof, leader of Sweden's Centre Party, has been called a traitor for her decision to abandon her centre-right allies and back long-time political foe, Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven, as prime minister after an inconclusive election.

The 35-year old, who has named former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher as a role model, once said she would rather "eat her right shoe" than help ex-union leader Lofven, whose Social Democrats have dominated Swedish politics for a century.