After a record-breaking four months, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) has appointed a new government. His second term comes thanks to a political deal, struck between the governing Social Democratic Party and the Greens on the one hand and the two ALDE member parties Centern and Liberalerna on the other hand.

The parties decided to support Löfven instead of their centre-right allies to avoid a government that would need to rely on the far-right Sweden Democrats. For their support to the new government, the Liberal and Centre parties secured a deal that includes more liberal policies in the government programme and cooperation on budget-related issues.

“As a liberal opposition party, the Centre Party will be constructive and scrutinise, and push for this new government to implement what we have agreed on,” Centre Party leader Annie Lööf commented moments after the announcement of the new government. You can read her full speech detailing the decision to support Löfven here (in Swedish).

Liberal Party Leader Jan Björklund commented on the party’s decision to support Löfven earlier this month: “We will not compromise our liberal values. We will continuously evaluate that the Social Democrats deliver what they promise.” You can read his full statement here (in Swedish).