Center Party leaders to meet on government options, reports say

Sweden’s Center Party is weighing competing government offers as negotiations gather pace. The party’s board and parliamentary group are expected to meet on Sunday, according to information reported by SVT.

The deadline for the Center Party to receive proposals passed at 5pm on Friday. The Moderates and the Social Democrats each submitted a “total package” setting out the policies they want to pursue and the parties they want to govern with.

On Saturday, Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson wrote in an opinion article in Expressen that the Left Party had made clear it was ready to negotiate if the Center Party chose the Social Democrats’ package. Left Party deputy leader Ida Gabrielsson later told SVT that the party’s position on its demands had not changed.

The Center Party is considering two minority-government options. A government comprising the Moderates, Center Party, Christian Democrats and Liberals would have 136 seats, with Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson as its candidate for prime minister. It would need the Sweden Democrats to let Kristersson take office; the party has said it could do so and then move into opposition.

A government of the Social Democrats, Green Party and Center Party would have 151 seats, with Andersson as its candidate for prime minister. It would need the Left Party to let her take office, but the Left Party has said it cannot do so unless it is included in the government. A majority in the Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, requires 175 seats.

SVT reported that parts of the Social Democrats’ package, which is said to contain around 100 proposals, include enshrining forest ownership rights in the constitution, a key issue for the Center Party.

The Social Democrats also invited the other left-green parties to talks on a joint budget. Social Democrat Anders Ygeman said the party would submit a budget reservation with the Left Party and Green Party if the Center Party chose the right-wing side. That would require a right-wing government to seek Sweden Democrat support to pass its budget.

Social Democrats and Greens are reportedly concerned that the Center Party may back Kristersson’s side. “We have clear signals in the Social Democrats that the Center Party is moving to the right towards the Moderates, and we want to raise a warning flag,” Social Democrat Annika Strandhäll said.

According to SVT, any decision by the Center Party will need broad support within the party, including from its district chairs and its council, the party’s highest decision-making body between party congresses. The party is expected to give an answer in the coming days.

Kristersson, who has been tasked with exploring the possibilities of forming a government, is due to report to the Speaker of the Riksdag on Tuesday.