Stockholm - Sweden's anti-immigration
party - which is shunned by the political mainstream - insisted
on Thursday it would block the formation of a new government
unless it gets a say in policy - something the two main
political blocs have ruled out.
The Sweden Democrats have grown in popularity since entering
parliament in 2010 and hold the balance of power after winning
62 seats in the 349-member house at a Sept. 9 election.
They voted with the centre-right Alliance bloc to scupper
the government of Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Lofven
on Tuesday. But at consultations on forming a new administration
on Thursday, said they would not back an Alliance government.
"We will not, either actively or passively, support a
government that does not give us influence," Sweden Democrats
leader Jimmie Akesson told reporters.
The speaker of parliament has four attempts at picking a
prime minister who can get support from parliament - a process
that could take weeks. If he fails there will be a new election
within three months.
Lofven and Alliance leader Ulf Kristersson are both claiming
the right to build a new minority administration.
Kristersson said he wanted to form a government consisting
of his Moderate party and its Centre, Liberal and Christian
Democrat allies. With 143 members of parliament, that grouping
is one seat smaller than Lofven's centre-left bloc.
Lofven, whose Social Democrats are the biggest party in
parliament, is hoping that the Centre and Liberal parties will
support him if their only other option is a deal with the Social
Democrats.
The speaker will hold a news conference later in the day
after completing his first round of talks with all the party
leaders.