Swedish PM to call off snap election after deal with centre-right

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speaks during a news conference at the Chancellery in Stockholm Dec 2, 2014.  Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will later on Saturday call off a planned snap election, Swedish daily Expressen reported on
Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speaks during a news conference at the Chancellery in Stockholm Dec 2, 2014.  Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will later on Saturday call off a planned snap election, Swedish daily Expressen reported on its website citing sources. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

STOCKHOLM (REUTERS) - Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will later on Saturday call off a planned snap election, Swedish daily Expressen reported on its website citing sources.

Lofven's Social Democrats, junior coalition partner the Greens, and centre-right opposition parties the Moderates, the Liberals, the Christian Democrats and the Centre Party called a joint press conference at 0930 GMT, suggesting a deal of some sort had been reached.

Lofven had said he planed to call a snap vote for March 22 after losing a budget vote in December when the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats backed an alternative finance bill put forward by the four-party Alliance opposition.

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