Sweden has been trying to set up a government for just over four months, but now the time is running out: Should there be no majority for a Cabinet in the next two weeks, a new election will automatically be held. Already on Wednesday it will be voted on the next prime minister or the next prime minister. But it is still not clear who is standing for election.
On Monday, Parliament President Andreas Norlen will announce who will stand in Parliament on Wednesday. It is the penultimate opportunity to form a government in Sweden: Should the candidate lose again, it will be voted one last week before it comes to a new election.
However, the situation is still stuck several months after the election in September. Neither the center-left block around the former and currently managing Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of the Social Democrats, nor the center-right block with moderates of Ulf Kristersson could reach a majority in the election. The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, on the other hand, have shown strong gains.
Center Party in a decisive role
Both Löfven and Kristersson already put themselves to a vote – and lost. Now it is expected that one of them will again stand for election. Decisive for the success will be the attitude of the Center Party and the Liberals, who are actually in the center-right block.
Annie Lööf of the Center Party plays a particularly crucial role in this – if she were in favor of working with the Social Democrats, the center-left bloc would have a majority in parliament with 175 seats. But Lööf until recently concluded a collaboration with the Social Democrats. Conversely, their party also voted against Kristersson, because a center-right coalition would have to be supported by the Sweden Democrats, which rejects the Center Party – as well as the Liberals.
Report on „Anti-Sweden Democrats“ clause
On Tuesday, Swedish public service radio reported that Moderate Chief Kristersson may now bring an „anti-Sweden Democrat“ clause into the game to convince Center Party and Liberals. Kristersson had repeatedly said in the past that he would not work as Prime Minister with the Sweden Democrats, a corresponding document could now fix that.
But that could ultimately cost him the support of the Sweden Democrats. Party leader Jimmie Akesson wrote in a Facebook post that „naturally“ he would not support a prime minister who „actively seeks to prevent Sweden Democrat voters from gaining influence.“ For a center-right coalition, however, the Sweden Democrats could be decisive: in order to become prime minister, the absolute majority of parliament must not vote against the candidate. Thus Kristersson would be dependent, without the help of the center-left parties, at least on the silent tolerance of the Sweden Democrats.
On Thursday Kristersson was cautious: He would not comment on an „anti-Sweden Democrats“ clause. He merely confirmed talks with the other parties in the bloc, which also dealt with the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats.
British media see Lööf in „high office“
In the British media, meanwhile, speculated that the current situation, especially Center Party boss Lööf could play in the cards. Both the „Times“ and the „Guardian“ see Lööf as possibly the first Prime Minister of Sweden. The 35-year-old Lööf was already in 2017, according to „Guardian“ as the most trusted politician in the country. If Prime Minister Löfven succeeds in persuading them to cooperate with the Social Democrats, Lööf could demand „high offices, perhaps even the highest office“.
Possible new election could change little
Until very recently, few details were known about the ongoing negotiations between the parties. For Elisabeth Marmorstein, Political Editor of Swedish Television (SVT), a sign that „something in progress“ is. However, „all eight parties should not be hers
