The Swedish PM Stefan Lofven surprised the country on Sunday as he said he would resign in November.
He said he would do it before the September 2022 election to give the next in line the opportunity to improve the Social Democrats’ standing in the polls.
Lofven has been in power since 2014.
However, his two coalition governments with the Green Party have worsened.
This made him unable to form a majority in the Parliament.
The latest setback saw Lofven, a former welder and union leader, resign in June after losing a vote of no confidence.
The Parliament sent him back to the office in July when the Moderators’ opposition party failed to get support from the government.
“In next year’s election campaign, someone else will lead the Social Democrats,” the PM said.
“Everything has an end and I want to give my successor the very best conditions,” he added.
Lofven said he would resign in November at the party’s congress.
The government might not hold much longer, as it does not have enough backing to pass the autumn’s budget.
Lofven’s possible successors
The possibly next in line after Lofven include the current Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson and Jenny Madestem.
Madestam said Energy Minister Anders Ygeman, Justice Minister Morgan Johansson, Enterprise Minister Ibrahim Baylan, or Health Minister Lena Hallengren could also be successors.
“Hallengren is less associated with the right or left of the party,” Madestam said.
“She has proven to be an extremely skilled political leader during the Corona pandemic,” Madestem added.
Lofven’s Social Democrats have been in power for years.
However, their support has gradually diminished, just like the left-of-center parties all over Europe.
Additionally, the Swedish Democrats’ rising has made it nearly impossible to form a majority government.
The ‘Sweden Democrats’ is a populist anti-immigration party.
Lofven led the Social Democrats in 2012 when they had the least support ever.
He managed to bring them back to power eight years after a center-right rule.
Lofven got a second term in 2018.
However, it was only when two center-right parties changed sides.
This left him between a rock and a hard place with the left party, whose backing he has needed.
The next in line is likely to have the same dilemma, as polls show the left and right blocs are still motionless.