SVT analyst says Thand Ringqvist vote is illogical

A parliamentary vote on Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist as prime minister is unlikely to resolve Sweden’s political deadlock, according to SVT domestic politics commentator Mats Knutson.

Thand Ringqvist, leader of the Centre Party, was asked to explore the possibility of forming a centrist government with Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister. That effort failed, but Speaker Andreas Norlén still wants parliament to hold a prime ministerial vote, this time on Thand Ringqvist rather than Andersson.

Knutson describes the vote as illogical and says it is bound to fail. Discontent with the speaker is growing among several parties in parliament. Social Democrats and the Green Party argue that Norlén should instead have given Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson a new mandate to explore forming a government. They believe the speaker avoided doing so for party-political reasons.

Putting Thand Ringqvist to a vote would formally test the idea of a centrist government, which Centre Party members have advocated. The aim, Knutson writes, is to increase pressure on the parties to make progress on forming a government.