Sweden to vote on Centre Party leader as prime minister

Sweden’s parliament will vote next Tuesday on whether Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist should become prime minister, SVT reports. If she is rejected, current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive the next assignment to explore forming a government.

Speaker Andreas Norlén said the vote would be the second prime minister vote since the election and would keep the process moving. He expects Thand Ringqvist to lose. She has previously said she does not intend to become prime minister.

“By holding a prime minister vote, we move closer to a snap election, and that increases the pressure on all the parties involved,” Norlén said. The speaker can put forward no more than four candidates before a snap election must be called.

Two weeks ago, parliament rejected Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson as a candidate to lead a one-party government. The red lines between the Centre Party and the Left Party appear to remain in place.

Thand Ringqvist was given the assignment to explore forming a government, but said this week there was not enough parliamentary support for a centrist government. After the speaker’s announcement, she said the Centre Party would continue to act responsibly and help Sweden form a government. She accepted being considered as a candidate for a coalition of the Centre Party, Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Greens and Liberals.

If Thand Ringqvist loses Tuesday’s vote, Norlén will give Kristersson a week, until November 10, to explore forming a government. Norlén has not decided whether Kristersson would then face a vote. If he cannot form a government, the speaker said he would first consult the red-green parties before proceeding to a third vote.

It has been 46 days since the election.