Political scientist: Confusing signals from the Center Party

After C leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist was voted down by the Riksdag on Tuesday, M leader Ulf Kristersson is the next man to probe the possibilities for a government. With only two prime ministerial votes left before by-elections, the pressure on the parties is intense.

Political scientist Tommy Möller noted something new in the Center's statement on Tuesday. In his declaration of vote, the centre-party's Daniel Bäckström said that the party did not receive the voters' mandate to allow the Left Party into a government - nor the voters' mandate to enable Sweden Democratic ministers.

- It can be interpreted as being able to release Kristersson without SD ministers. Such a statement has been worked out very carefully. In this situation, you can assume that every word is thought out and that even what is not said is thought out, says Tommy Möller.

The Center Party has previously said that the party cannot support a government that cooperates with SD. This was repeated by Thand Ringqvist in connection with the vote.

- These are confusing signals and I see two possible explanations for it. One is that they deliberately send confusing signals to try to put pressure on the Social Democrats. The second is that Elisabeth Thand simply has difficulty finding the right words, says Möller.

Letting through a Kristersson government with SD support, but without SD ministers, could be perceived as a betrayal by Center's voters.

- It is difficult to say how big a betrayal. Voters can also perceive it as irresponsible to push it so far that it leads to a by-election instead of letting Kristersson come forward, says Tommy Möller.

Is it possible that Kristersson will be released as prime minister next week?

- We may see such a solution.

Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson, political scientist at the University of Gothenburg, believes that Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist is sticking to her decision not to support a government that cooperates with SD.

- In that case, it would be if the Center Party can be given assurances that the Sweden Democrats will not have any influence over the policy pursued. But why would the Sweden Democrats agree to it?

Another option is that Ulf Kristersson finds a "new team". In addition to M, KD and L's mandate, that would require an additional 64 mandates for a majority government. The Center Party has 25 seats.

- Kristersson still has to show that he has made a valiant attempt. He can't give up too early, but he has to try all possibilities, says Henrik Ekengren Oscarsson.

Kristersson must report back to the speaker on 10 November. After that, it is the speaker's task to decide what the next step should be.