<span style="color: #222222;">Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven resigned today, one week after he lost a vote of confidence, leaving it up to the Speaker of Parliament to begin the search for a replacement.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Lofven could have either called a snap election or resigned following the no-confidence vote last week.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He told a press conference a snap election was not what is best for Sweden, pointing to the difficult situation the COVID-19 pandemic posed, coupled with the fact that the next General Election is a year away.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It will now be up to Parliamentary Speaker Andreas Norlen to open negotiations with parties to find a new Prime Minister.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Lofven's government will stay on temporarily to handle routine tasks until a new administration is formed.</span><br />''  <br />