Sweden’s PM looks to Greens to retain power

SWEDEN’S prime minister sought help from the opposition Greens yesterday to avoid a political deadlock after an Islam-bashing far-right group spoiled his centre-right government’s control of Parliament.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt’s coalition won Sunday’s election but lost its majority in the 349-seat legislature, weakening its ability to push through crucial legislation.

The Sweden Democrats, a small nationalist party, entered parliament for the first time, winning 20 seats to hold the balance of power between the 172 seats captured by the four-party centre-right bloc and the 154 seats taken by the three-party leftist opposition, according to preliminary returns.