After Sweden Election: Head of Seven Percent Party to Lead Explorations

In Sweden, Parliament President Andreas Norlén resorts to an unusual means in the face of the blockade on the formation of a government. Norlén on Monday commissioned the leader of the Centre Party, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, with the soundings. After the Social Democratic party leader Magdalena Andersson and the former Conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Thand Ringqvist is already the third person to be commissioned to form a government in Stockholm. The Centre Party was in the parliamentary elections on 13 September with seven percent of the vote only fifth strongest force. The Social Democrat Andersson failed last week, however, in a first attempt of a Prime Minister election in the Reichstag. So far, the Centre Party has rejected both cooperation with the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats and government participation by the Left Party. The surprising move by the President of Parliament is also seen as an attempt to hold the Centre Party accountable. How realistic is a “central government”? “There are various government options being discussed, but as far as I can tell, none of them seem to be making any significant progress,” Norlén said during a press conference on Monday. Thand Ringqvist said: “My ambition is to contribute to a solution to the government issue, not to become prime minister myself.” Furthermore, the centre politician announced that she would explore the possibilities of a “central government”. Her party wants an effective government “that creates more jobs, reduces emissions and strengthens the welfare state”. However, it is precisely this claim of a centre-political government that clashes with the actual majority after the recent parliamentary elections. The Social Democrat Andersson would need the votes of the Greens, the Left Party and the Center Party for a narrow majority in Parliament. The former Prime Minister Kristersson would need both the Centre Party and the Sweden Democrats at his side for re-election. A grand coalition with the Social Democrats recently ruled out Kristersson with reference to the negative example of Germany. For a government without Sweden Democrats, the Left Party and the moderates of Kristersson, the cooperation of five parties would be needed. In the talks so far between centre-left parties, the Left Party insisted on its claim to ministerial posts. The Center Party has so far rejected this strictly. Due to the ongoing blockade had been speculated in recent days about an opening of the center party to the Sweden Democrats. Thand Ringqvist announced on Monday to talk to all parties represented in the Reichstag. At the same time, she reaffirmed that her preferred candidate for the office of head of government remains the Social Democrat Andersson.