Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has concluded that there is no parliamentary support for the middle government she advocated. She announced the outcome at a press conference after a week of talks with Sweden's party leaders, according to Expressen, Svenska Dagbladet, Aftonbladet and DR.
Thand Ringqvist had envisioned that the Green Party, Centre Party, Christian Democrats and Liberals could stand behind the Social Democrats' Magdalena Andersson as prime minister. "There is support for a middle policy, but not a majority for a middle government," she said.
The speaker, the talman, gave her the task of exploring the possibility of a middle government a week ago. She said at the time that she took on the assignment humbly and did not see herself as prime minister in such a government. On Monday she reported back to the speaker and confirmed that her idea could be set aside for now.
The Riksdag voted down Magdalena Andersson in a prime ministerial vote on 15 October, with every party except the Social Democrats voting no.
Social Democrat Anders Ygeman said the message was expected and that Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson should now receive the task of exploring a government. "Then it's also reasonable that another prime ministerial candidate is tested," Ygeman said. He added that the Centre Party and the Left Party must modify the red lines they drew up in the election campaign.
"We hold talks with them and other parties at various levels all the time. If we are to get a government in place that gives Sweden a new direction, then it's required that the Centre Party and the Left Party modify their red lines from the election campaign and modify them based on the election result," he said.
The red-green parties won the 13 September election with 176 mandates against 173 for the Tidö parties. Ulf Kristersson resigned as prime minister and leads a transition government.
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