Sweden’s mainstream parties reached a deal on Saturday that will allow the minority centre-left government to remain in office.
Sweden’s normally stable politics were thrown into turmoil in December when Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he would call a snap election in March after his budget was voted down by the centre-right opposition and the Sweden Democrats.
“Sweden has a tradition of solving difficult questions,” Lofven said. “I am happy we have reached a deal that means that Sweden can be governed.”
The deal between the centre-left Social Democrats and Green coalition and the four-party centre-right Alliance will mean Lofven will have to follow the opposition’s budget next year, although he can make some changes in spring.
The Alliance will abstain from voting against the government’s budgets from spring onwards. The snap election, which had been due to take place on Mar. 22, has been cancelled.
Under the deal, which lasts until 2022, the two blocs have also agreed to coordinate policy on pensions, defence and energy.
