STOCKLOHM--Swedish far-right party Sweden Democrats failed Tuesday in their second attempt to topple Prime Minister Stefan Loefven.
The Sweden Democrats struck down Loefven's budget in December to signal discontent with the country's immigration policies, forcing the Social Democrat leader to call snap elections that were later averted in a deal with the centre-right opposition.
Last week the anti-immigrant party -- which has been seen its influence in parliament drastically reduced by the deal which stretches to 2022 -- called a no-confidence vote in protest.
"The government has come up with a string of defeats," Sweden Democrat Richard Jomshof said in parliament Tuesday, slamming Loefven for cancelling the snap election and "hurting" Swedish relations with Israel by recognising a Palestinian state.
Tomas Eneroth, leader of the Social Democrats parliamentary group, said the Sweden Democrats were trying to "draw attention" to themselves by calling the vote.
With the Left Party and the centre-right opposition abstaining, the no-confident vote failed, with the Sweden Democrats falling more than 130 votes short of the 176 required to bring down the government.
The Sweden Democrats more than doubled their seats in parliament in September, becoming the third largest party in the Nordic country.
AFP
