Kristersson expected to take over talks as C leader faces defeat

Sweden’s parliament is expected to reject Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist as prime minister on Tuesday, with Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson likely to receive the next mandate to explore forming a government, SVT reports.

Even Thand Ringqvist does not expect to win the vote on a proposed centrist government, according to SVT political reporter Erik Nilsson. “It will go completely off the rails,” he said before the vote on SVT’s Morgonstudion programme, adding that she was unlikely to receive many votes beyond those of her own party.

When she was given the assignment more than two weeks ago, Thand Ringqvist said her aim was to “contribute to a solution to the government question, not to become prime minister herself”. She can be elected only if a majority of MPs do not vote against her.

Several red-green parties have criticised Speaker Andreas Norlén’s decision to put Thand Ringqvist to a prime ministerial vote, particularly because she had not sought the job herself. Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson and Green Party spokesperson Amanda Lind have both said Kristersson should have been asked to explore government options first.

If Thand Ringqvist is rejected, Kristersson is expected to receive a formal mandate from the speaker and will have one week to explore the prospects of forming a government. Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch said on Tuesday that giving him the assignment would be “completely natural”.

The vote is the second prime ministerial vote since Andersson was rejected in mid-October. Two more votes can be held before a snap election is automatically called under Sweden’s constitution.