STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s main opposition party named a former welder and trade unionist as leader yesterday.
It did so to stop a slide in poll ratings and fight back against a centre-right government that has won popularity by cutting taxes.
The Social Democrats, which introduced the Swedish welfare state but lost the last two elections in 2006 and 2010, named Stefan Lofven as their new party leader. He took over from Hakan Juholt, who was leader for less than a year. – (Reuters)