Thand Ringqvist keeps red lines as talks continue

Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist says her party’s red lines remain in place, while describing a meeting planned with four left-green parties as a step forward, SVT reported.

The meeting, scheduled for Friday, is intended to discuss Sweden’s current situation and identify shared starting points, she said on SVT’s Sunday evening programme Agenda.

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson has received the assignment to explore forming a government again from Speaker Andreas Norlén. Thand Ringqvist said the Center Party would not drop its opposition to having Left Party ministers in government.

Asked whether the parties were prepared to force an early election, she said that would be a failure for all parties and that they had to find a solution. She acknowledged that the Center Party had contributed to the deadlock, but said Andersson had ultimate responsibility. The Center Party would continue talks with all parties, she added.

Left Party deputy leader Ida Gabrielsson said voters expected the parties to form a government and that they needed to cooperate, even if they did not agree on everything. Social Democrat Anders Ygeman said both the Center Party and the Left Party had been constructive.

SVT political commentator Elisabeth Marmorstein said the Center Party’s hopes for a centrist government were fading. She suggested the party might consider some form of agreement with the Left Party, while maintaining its opposition to Left Party ministers.