Andersson says Centre Party will be needed to form government

Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson says forming Sweden's next government will be difficult unless the Centre Party is involved in some way.

In a Dagens Nyheter interview, Andersson said C would have to be involved “in one way or another”. In a separate SVT statement the same day, she said she was prepared to cooperate broadly and noted that Sweden is not a two-party system.

The Centre Party has already named Andersson and the Social Democrats as its most likely partner after the election. Its support “will never come free”, according to the party's June announcement, which listed lower emissions, more jobs, lower taxes and rural investment as conditions.

But no coalition deal exists. An SVT coalition review says C prefers a government bringing together S, C, the Greens and the Christian Democrats while ruling out the Left Party in cabinet. V has said it should enter government if its seats are needed, leaving a direct conflict for post-election talks.

Sweden votes on 13 September. Under Riksdag rules, a proposed prime minister is approved unless at least 175 MPs vote no. Andersson's statement is therefore about the parliamentary arithmetic, not a final coalition agreement.

The file photograph shows Andersson outside Stockholm City Hall in April 2020. It does not show the 31 August interview or a coalition negotiation.

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