Center Leader: We Want to Form a Government with the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats

With the Swedish election just one month away, Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist expressed optimism about her party's prospects and a desire to form a center-based government. Speaking during a campaign tour in western Sweden, Ringqvist stated that the Center Party is experiencing positive momentum and hopes to solidify this trend in the final weeks before the vote.

Ringqvist envisions an influential center role for the Center Party, aiming to create a government coalition with the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, and possibly the Green Party. She suggested that Christian Democrats leader Ebba Busch's perceived softer stance towards the Social Democrats indicates a potential willingness to cooperate. "Ebba Busch seems to have a great interest in the Social Democrats," Ringqvist commented, interpreting this as a sign for coalition talks.

However, significant policy differences loom, particularly concerning the Social Democrats' proposal to abolish the sickness benefit waiting period, known as the "karensavdrag." The Center Party strongly opposes this, citing concerns about the financial burden it could place on businesses, estimating the cost to be between 5 and 30 billion kronor.

When questioned about the fairness of the waiting period affecting certain professions unable to work from home when mildly ill, Ringqvist suggested it should be a matter for labor market parties to negotiate. She also affirmed her non-negotiable stance on lowering employment costs during any coalition negotiations.