(Adnkronos) – More than a month after the legislative elections on September 13, won by a narrow margin by the left, Sweden is still without a new government. Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen has tasked the leader of the Centre Party, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, with verifying the possibility of forming an executive composed of a cross-party parliamentary majority. The decision came after a weekend of consultations with the leaders of the eight political parties represented in Parliament. “‘I have asked her to assess the necessary conditions for forming a government that can be accepted by Parliament,’ Norlen explained, specifying that the centrist leader must report her conclusions by October 26.”
The country is going through a phase of political deadlock despite the left-wing bloc having a narrow majority of 176 seats against the right’s 173. Social Democratic leader and former prime minister Magdalena Andersson has already failed in attempts to form a government, mainly due to deep disagreements between the Left Party, which demands ministerial posts, and the centrists, who are opposed to sharing the executive with parties deemed extremist. Thand Ringqvist, however, has stated her willingness to consider an alliance with some center-right forces. Norlen can submit up to four candidacies for the post of prime minister to a parliamentary vote: the first, that of Andersson, was rejected for the second time last Thursday. If even the fourth attempt fails, new elections will need to be called.
