Sweden’s Centre leader says coalition talks failed

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Sweden's Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist said Monday that efforts to form a centrist government had failed due to a lack of parliamentary support amid a prolonged post-election deadlock.

Addressing a news conference, Ringqvist said while there was a majority in parliament for “centrist policies,” there was no support for a centrist government, according to broadcaster SVT.

She noted that the talks she had held with the seven other parties had been open and constructive, but that the parliamentary deadlocks remained.

She reportedly said her party’s proposed centrist alternative could be set aside for the time being, adding that there was also no majority support for a shift to the left in Swedish politics.

Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen further announced that he would discuss with party representatives over the phone how the process should be taken forward.

Norlen had tasked Ringqvist with exploring the formation of a centrist government last week after Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson was rejected by parliament in the first such vote since the election.

İlayda Çakırtekin