Löfven reflects on resignation and Putin encounter in upcoming memoir

Three years have passed since Stefan Löfven, the then-leader of the Social Democrats, resigned as Sweden’s Prime Minister after being ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament. His memoirs are now set to be released, where he reflects on various significant events, including a tense encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a conference in St. Petersburg in the spring of 2019. Löfven characterizes the relationship between Sweden and Russia as “not the best,” attributing this to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and airspace violations over Swedish territory.

During his conversation with Putin, Löfven felt the President’s piercing gaze, which he interpreted as a form of intimidation. “It’s simply a power play. It is not entirely unfamiliar. At that moment, I felt that it was time to stand my ground,” he recounts in his memoir “Min sanning,” an interview set to be published on Sunday.

Löfven also reflects on the events leading up to his resignation, viewing them as foundational to the current right-wing government, which operates with support from the Sweden Democrats. The situation escalated from a proposal to introduce market-based rents for new constructions, opposed by the Left Party, which threatened to withdraw their support for Löfven’s government. When the Social Democrats proceeded with the rental investigation, a no-confidence vote was triggered, resulting in Löfven’s ousting.

“It was a serious event, especially for the country, and I don’t think it was worth it,” he comments in his memoir. The full interview will be available on SVT Play and SVT2 at 8:00 PM on Sunday, September 15.