The move follows the rejection of Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, who sought to become the new prime minister on Wednesday. Kristersson’s proposal to form a minority coalition with the Christian Democrats was blocked by the Social Democrats, the Liberals, and the Centre Party. These parties, including Kristersson’s own partners in the center-right Alliance, expressed concerns that such a coalition would rely too heavily on the far-right Sweden Democrats to pass legislation. The rejection highlights the fragility of the center-right bloc and the difficulty of forming a stable government in the current parliamentary landscape.
Lööf has been given one week, with the possibility of an extension, to determine the conditions under which a government could be formed. Norlén emphasized that Lööf’s task differs from that of Kristersson or caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, both of whom previously failed to form a new government. While Kristersson and Löfven were tasked with actively forming coalitions, Lööf’s role is to explore what conditions could result in a government. Lööf told reporters that she intends to set the question of the prime ministership aside to find broad agreements and backing for the reforms Sweden needs. She stated her aim is to build a consensus around concrete policies with all parties except the Sweden Democrats and the Left parties.
Political Context and Deadlock
Sweden is entering an unprecedented fifth month without a fully functioning government, relying on a caretaker administration. The September election left the two dominant political blocs, center-right and center-left, separated by a single seat, creating a deadlock. The third-largest party, the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has become a pivotal factor in potential coalition negotiations. Lööf’s Centre Party, the fourth-largest party with 31 seats, is part of the four-member center-right Alliance. The party has sworn never to be part of or support a government backed by the Sweden Democrats.
With 35 years of age, Lööf is the youngest ever leader of the Centre Party, a position she has held since 2011. She is a former business minister and has been a prominent figure in Swedish politics, campaigning on promises of tax cuts, business promotion, and a welcoming stance toward immigrants. Despite her prominence, analysts consider it unlikely that she will become Sweden’s first female prime minister, a distinction the country has not yet achieved despite having some of the highest proportions of female MPs in Europe. The recent election saw a record 161 women take their seats in the 349-member Riksdag.
Lööf’s previous attempts to explore coalition options ended when she blamed the Social Democrats’ reluctance to accept liberal reforms for the failure. Only two more formal attempts to form a coalition are allowed before fresh elections must be called on 23 January. The current political situation presents a complex puzzle, as Lööf’s Centre Party votes could potentially provide a majority for Stefan Löfven’s center-left bloc. However, Lööf campaigned on a promise not to govern with the Social Democrats. If these constraints are navigated, the outcome of her exploratory talks could determine whether Sweden avoids a snap election or continues under a caretaker government.
