Åkesson invites Centre Party to talks on a possible new alliance

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson has invited Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist to a meeting, raising the possibility of a new centre-right alliance, SVT reports. In an open letter published on X over the weekend, Åkesson urged the Centre Party to reconsider its opposition to cooperation with his party. The Centre Party has not accepted the invitation.

The Centre Party has long said it cannot support a government that depends in any way on the Sweden Democrats. But Adam Danieli, head of ideas at the Timbro think tank, said recent comments from within the Centre Party suggested some openness to other alliances. He said negotiations with the left were not going the party’s way.

Any agreement would face a major obstacle over whether the Sweden Democrats should receive ministerial posts. Åkesson and Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson have agreed that the Sweden Democrats should have ministers in a government led by Kristersson. The Centre Party’s votes would be needed to elect a centre-right prime minister.

After Magdalena Andersson was defeated in a vote for prime minister last week, some members of parliament want Kristersson to receive the next exploratory assignment. Danieli said many Sweden Democrats voters have strong confidence in Kristersson, and argued that voting him down would go against their wishes.

Arvid Hallén of Oikos, a think tank associated with the Sweden Democrats, said the party’s migration and crime policies would be central to any negotiations. He said it would be difficult for the party to retreat on migration policy, particularly if it were not in government.

Eric Luth of Fores, a think tank linked to the Centre Party, said cooperation with the Sweden Democrats would prompt a difficult debate within the Centre Party, especially among voters.