Swedish Liberal leader vows to block Magdalena Andersson as prime minister

Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has been tasked with exploring the prospects for her party's stated ideal: a centrist government led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson. But the Liberals have already discarded her centrist dream as dead on arrival.

Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson has said her party will not support a government led by the Social Democrats.

“We will not use our parliamentary seats to enable a Social Democrat-led government, whether it is Magdalena Andersson herself or someone else conducting exploratory talks on her behalf,” Mohamsson told Swedish newswire TT.

Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has begun the task assigned to her by the Speaker of the Riksdag: to explore the conditions for a centrist government led by Magdalena Andersson. Such a governing coalition would include the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Centre Party, the Liberals, and the Christian Democrats.

However, the Liberals view the Centre Party’s “centrist alternative” as a non-starter. Mohamsson has said that the Liberals intend to vote against Magdalena Andersson three more times, should the parliament speaker nominate her in upcoming votes for prime minister.

“The centre of Swedish politics is not led by Magdalena Andersson, but by Ulf (Kristersson). Elisabeth is more than welcome to join the centre-right side,” said Mohamsson.

Andersson has already been rejected in one vote for Prime Minister. Three such votes remain before a snap election would be triggered.

Thand Ringqvist, however, is not discouraged by Mohamsson's response.

“I am meeting with Simona this week to talk, and I look forward to it,” said the Centre Party leader.

“I don’t expect to convince anyone this week, but I will gain a better understanding of the conditions," she continued.

Mohamsson said she also looks forward to the meeting, though her intention is to persuade the Centre Party to shift over to the centre-right side. By Friday, Thand Ringqvist will have held meetings with all party leaders, including those not part of the centrist alternative. She met with Magdalena Andersson on Tuesday.

The weekend will be devoted to reflection, and on Monday, the results of the exploratory talks will be reported to the parliament speaker.

The leader of the Moderate Party, current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, believes that parliament should subsequently hold a second prime minister vote, with Magdalena Andersson as the candidate.

“Every exploratory process must conclude with a vote. Otherwise, we aren’t getting anywhere,” he said.

Mohamsson also believes that Andersson should be put to a second vote. According to her, proposing Kristersson while the Centre Party continues to support Andersson would be almost comical.

Within the Social Democrats, the view is different. Member of parliament and former minister Anders Ygeman assumes that “other steps will be taken by the Speaker” before a new vote on Magdalena Andersson becomes relevant.

“It seems reasonable that, if Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist fails, Ulf Kristersson should also be put to the test and given the opportunity to conduct exploratory talks,” said Ygeman.