Kristersson needs Centre Party and Sweden Democrats to change course

Ulf Kristersson has a difficult but possible route to another term as Sweden’s prime minister, SVT reports, if the Centre Party changes its position on cooperation with the Sweden Democrats and the Sweden Democrats drop their demand for ministerial posts.

Kristersson is now tasked with exploring options for forming a government. SVT’s domestic political commentator Elisabeth Marmorstein says he is likely to offer the Centre Party a range of policy concessions to persuade it to switch sides.

But Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist reaffirmed the party’s opposition to working with the Sweden Democrats on Tuesday. Marmorstein said she finds it difficult to see the party changing its position.

“The Centre Party still cannot accept a government that depends on the Sweden Democrats,” Marmorstein said. She noted that a Kristersson government would rely on their support on issues where the Social Democrats, Left Party and Green Party agree, such as a budget.

Marmorstein said Thand Ringqvist could argue that switching sides would prevent both the Sweden Democrats and the Left Party from gaining ministerial posts. Kristersson has described his assignment as “very difficult”, but the possibility of another term remains open.