Red-green leaders slam plan to put Centre leader to PM vote

Red-green party leaders criticised the speaker of parliament’s decision to put Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist forward in a prime ministerial vote, SVT reported. Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson called the move “remarkable”, while discontent was also brewing within the Centre Party.

Andersson said it would have been more reasonable to give current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson the chance to explore forming a right-wing government. She called it “remarkable” to hold a vote on someone who had not explored becoming prime minister and whose potential government support includes parties that do not want to join it.

Green Party co-leader Amanda Lind also described the decision as “remarkable” and said it risked delaying government formation further. Thand Ringqvist said she had accepted the speaker’s decision, but would have preferred the speaker to nominate Andersson as prime minister or give Kristersson a chance to explore forming a government.

Several people within the Centre Party told SVT they found the decision strange. One source called it “farcical”.

Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar said the decision was the speaker’s to make. She said she understood it as an effort to give the Centre Party’s centrist option a full hearing in parliament, after which the process could move to its next stage.

If Thand Ringqvist loses the vote, as expected, on Tuesday, the speaker said the task of exploring government formation will go directly to Kristersson. Four failed prime ministerial votes would lead to a snap election.