Åkesson invites Centre leader to talks, keeps cabinet demand

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson has invited Centre leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist to talks on Sweden’s government deadlock, while maintaining that his party must enter government or go into opposition.

In an open letter on Sunday, Åkesson offered a discussion without preconditions about the parliamentary situation and the obstacles between their parties. He argued that a prolonged impasse would harm Sweden, but explicitly ruled out changing SD’s position on its own role.

Centre said on Thursday that it could allow a government made up solely of Social Democrats, provided a concrete programme rooted in the political centre was agreed. It voted against Magdalena Andersson because it said that programme was missing.

Speaker Andreas Norlén will announce the next step in government formation at 13:30 on Monday, 19 October. He has urged party leaders to continue discussions without waiting for a formal exploratory mandate.

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