Hatt succeeds Muharrem Demirok, who announced his departure at the end of February.
The meeting began with a seemingly relieved Demirok being thanked. He then handed over a bouquet of flowers and a baton to his successor amidst great applause from the audience, who were equipped with caps with Hatt's logo.
I really look forward to carrying this (baton) with the same honor as you have done, says Hatt.
In her speech, she praised the women in the party's history, such as Karin Söder, Maud Olofsson, and Annie Lööf. Hatt also brought up the center movement in the 1970s and reminded them of when Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin coined the phrase "Hold the line" during the submarine crisis.
It is true that it has been a long time since Sweden was at war. Let us sincerely hope that it continues to be so. But it is equally true that we live in a new era and that we may need to defend our country again.
She emphasized the importance of the buildup, which also includes civilian defense and supply preparedness.
"Gigantic betrayal"
The biggest applause and a standing ovation came when she described the government's climate policy as "a gigantic betrayal".
Every government where the Center Party is included will be a government that puts effective climate work at the top. And every government that deliberately chooses to lower Sweden's climate ambitions will be a government that will have to count on being toppled by the Center Party.
The second standing ovation came when Hatt made it clear that the party will continue to rule out organized cooperation with the Sweden Democrats.
Our line remains firm, she says.
However, she did not want to give a clear answer on how the party views the Left Party during the subsequent press conference.
We have not had the broad discussion yet.
Will clarify the policy
Hatt has promised in interviews to return to the government issue "in good time" before the next election. During her speech, she stated that the issue stands in the way of the party's ability to clarify its policy to the voters.
We will change that.
Besides climate and defense, she highlighted entrepreneurship and the importance of a well-functioning school throughout the country in her speech. The latter as a counterweight to young people being drawn into crime.
It can be what decides whether more young people will be sucked into ruthless crime or be able to choose another path.
Anna-Karin Hatt is 52 years old.
She grew up in Halland's Hylte, where she was a municipal politician.
Comes most recently from the job as CEO of the Swedish Federation of Farmers (LRF). Has previously been, among other things, IT Minister in Fredrik Reinfeldt's government.
She lost the party leadership contest in the Center Party against Annie Lööf in 2011 and also declined to run for the role as Lööf successor in 2022.
