Sweden’s parliament has rejected Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist as prime minister, prolonging the political deadlock that has followed the parliamentary election in mid-September. The result had been expected, but leaves efforts to form a new government stalled after two months.
The Centre Party narrowly won the September 13 election as part of a centre-left opposition bloc that also includes the Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Greens. The four parties have been unable to agree on a government with majority support. A key dispute is whether the Left Party should receive ministerial posts: it says these are necessary for its participation, while the Centre Party has ruled them out.
Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to unite the bloc and was also rejected in a prime ministerial vote. The Speaker of parliament can put forward candidates for up to four votes. If the fourth candidate is rejected, a new election must be called.
The Speaker has said that Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party and prime minister since 2022, will be given the next opportunity to form a government. His vote would be the third of the four possible attempts.
The Social Democrats, Greens, Left Party and Centre Party hold a combined 176 seats in the new parliament. Kristersson’s previous alliance, including the Sweden Democrats, has 173. Government formation has taken a long time in Sweden before: negotiations after the 2018 election lasted 134 days.
Sources: Der Spiegel.