Snecker says government deadlock may take several PM votes to break

Breaking the deadlock over red lines in government talks may take several prime ministerial votes, former Left Party MP Linda Snecker told SVT.

New consultations between Speaker Andreas Norlén and party leaders are taking place in the Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, on Wednesday. Norlén is meeting all party leaders except Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson, who has submitted her report on efforts to form a government.

One of the main obstacles to a possible government deal is the divide between the Left Party and the Centre Party. The Left Party insists on joining the government, while the Centre Party cannot support that arrangement.

Snecker said the Left Party had been clear about its position for a long time, including through a party congress decision that tied the leadership to the goal of entering government. She said the party had also shown the Social Democrats it was prepared to vote out a Social Democratic prime minister.

Speaking on SVT’s Morgonstudion, Snecker said some demands might be resolved, but that it would take time. Karin Källström, a political columnist at Centre Party-aligned Östersunds-Posten, also expected the process to take time. She said she did not think the Left Party could be persuaded to change its position, adding that both sides could believe they were right.