Andersson and Dadgostar reveal hand signal meant a phone call

Swedish Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson and Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar say a hand signal between them meant they would speak by phone. They later did so, the two leaders told SVT.

The gesture drew attention after parliament voted against Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist as prime minister on Tuesday. Asked what the signals meant, Andersson said: “Lots of secrets, of course.”

Neither leader would say what they discussed on the call. Andersson said it was not helpful to be open about the details of their talks at this stage. She also declined to say whether she wants the Left Party in her government, saying only that Dadgostar leads a party that wants her to become prime minister.

Tuesday’s vote was the second prime ministerial vote. After four failed votes, a snap election is automatically held. The task of trying to form a government has now gone to Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson.

Dadgostar said she still expects Andersson to become prime minister. If Kristersson fails, she said, Andersson should again be given the task of forming a government. She described the Social Democrats, Left Party, Green Party and Centre Party as “those who won the election”.