Center Party prepares its own budget as red-green talks stall

Sweden’s Center Party is preparing its own budget proposal as the chances of a joint budget among the red-green parties fade, public broadcaster SVT reports.

The Green Party’s economic policy spokesperson, Janine Alm Ericson, said it appeared the time for a shared budget had run out. The parties would have to decide how to proceed in parliament’s finance committee once the outgoing government’s transitional budget was presented, she said.

The first firm deadline is November 12, when the government must submit its 2027 budget bill to parliament. One option raised by several red-green representatives is to vote for the transitional budget and propose changes later.

Center Party economic policy spokesperson Martin Ådahl said his party was working on its own budget proposal while government formation talks continued. He said it would focus on creating jobs, reducing emissions and strengthening welfare across the country.

Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has been tasked with exploring a “middle alternative” in the government formation process. Alm Ericson said the Center Party was free to act as it wished, but that it would be better if the parties made progress in negotiations and agreed on a shared economic policy.