After Magdalena Andersson (S) was voted down in parliament, the task of trying to resolve the government issue has now fallen to the Centre Party’s leader, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist. She will explore the possibility of forming a centrist government and will hold talks with all parliamentary parties, including the Sweden Democrats. At the same time, the Centre Party’s previous red lines against both the Sweden Democrats and the Left Party remain firm.

The political deadlock following the parliamentary election in September continues. Last week, the Social Democrats’ party leader, Magdalena Andersson, failed to gather enough support to return as prime minister after parliament rejected her proposal for a purely Social Democratic government.

After the vote, Speaker Andreas Norlén conducted talks with all party leaders to examine which government constellations might gather support in parliament. On Monday, he announced that the Centre Party’s Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist will be given the next exploratory mandate.

The assignment means Thand Ringqvist will invite all party leaders to talks, including Jimmie Åkesson (Sweden Democrats) and Nooshi Dadgostar (Left Party). This will happen despite the Centre Party still opposing government cooperation with both parties.

Sweden Democrats Extend an Olive Branch

On Sunday, Åkesson sent an invitation to the Centre Party leader for an unconditional discussion about the political gridlock between the parties. The Sweden Democrats leader emphasized that his party has no red lines when it comes to holding talks, but at the same time stressed that the Sweden Democrats insist on either entering the government or having a decisive role in government support.

READ ALSO: Åkesson in open letter to Centre Party leader: “No red lines”

Thand Ringqvist, however, has not indicated any change in the Centre Party’s position toward the Sweden Democrats and the Left Party. She told TT that the discussions are intended to give her a better understanding of the positions of the various parties.

– I want to get a sense of the entire political landscape in this assignment, and understand how everyone is reasoning, she says.

Wants to See Andersson as Prime Minister

Although Thand Ringqvist now holds the Speaker’s mandate, she has no ambition to become prime minister herself. Instead, the Centre Party envisions a government in the political center, where Magdalena Andersson, according to the Centre Party leader, is the most likely prime minister candidate since the Social Democrats are the largest party in parliament.

In a written statement to SVT, she emphasizes that the task is about trying to find a solution to the government issue.

“My ambition is to contribute to a solution to the government issue, not to become prime minister myself. The Centre Party wants to see an effective government that creates more jobs, reduces emissions, and strengthens welfare. Now I will invite all party leaders to talks.”

Andreas Norlén points out that forming a government is complicated and that there is no obvious path forward. He has not yet decided when the next prime minister vote will take place and wants to avoid having parliament vote on candidates who lack a realistic chance of being elected.

By Monday, October 26 at the latest, she must inform the Speaker of how the talks have gone.