Sweden’s speaker asks Centre Party leader to explore centrist government talks

Sweden’s parliamentary speaker, Andreas Norlén, asked Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist on October 19 to explore a centrist route to a government after weeks of post-election deadlock. She has until October 26 to report back, while the parties remain divided over who could govern together.

Norlén said Thand Ringqvist’s task is to lead talks and test whether a government in the political middle is possible. He has not asked her to form one. He also said it was unclear who would become prime minister if the talks succeeded, according to Reuters and The Local.

Why Sweden’s government talks remain stuck

The September election gave the centre-left a narrow parliamentary majority, Reuters reported. All four opposition parties favour Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister, but they disagree over which parties should enter a government. That disagreement has left Sweden without a new government more than five weeks after election night, according to The Local.

Parliament rejected Andersson as prime minister on October 15, the first decisive vote on a candidate since the election. Reuters reported that the vote was the first of up to four attempts before a fresh election must be called. Sweden last held an early election in 1958, Reuters said.

The Centre Party’s proposed middle option

The Centre Party has previously suggested a government that could include the Social Democrats, Centre Party, Green Party, Christian Democrats and Liberals, The Local reported. Thand Ringqvist has also raised a middle option excluding both the Left Party and the far-right Sweden Democrats, according to Reuters. Neither outline is an agreed coalition; the talks will test whether parties can find a workable arrangement.

Norlén said other government options were also being discussed, though none appeared to be making clear progress. Thand Ringqvist’s report to him is due by October 26 at the latest.