Swedish PM Lofven resigns after no-confidence vote

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven holds a news conference at Rosenbad in Stockholm, Sweden June 28, 2021. TT News Agency/Stina Stjernkvist via REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Monday he was resigning, handing the speaker of parliament the job of finding a new premier after the Social Democrat leader lost a vote of no-confidence last week.

Lofven had been given a deadline of midnight on Monday to either step down or call a snap election after losing the June 21 confidence vote when the Left Party withdrew its support. He had hoped to find fresh backing in parliament to secure his reappointment.