Parties push Sweden towards snap election, says Andreas Norlen

Sweden faces a snap vote unless political parties can end a standoff that has left the country without a new government three months after a general election in September.

"The parties are pushing Sweden toward a snap election," speaker Andreas Norlen said in a statement after parliament rejected Social Democrat leader Stefan Lofven as prime minister for a second time.

"I have therefore decided that I should start to take steps in order to prepare for that." 

(With inputs from agencies.)