Anna-Karin Hatt was considered credible when she previously announced in April that she, "after mature consideration", had decided not to run for the leadership of the Center Party.
The nomination committee's proposal on Monday came as a slight surprise, according to Sundström.
But in terms of qualifications, she has a lot to offer. She has particularly strong "cred" when it comes to rural areas after her years at the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), where she has traveled extensively throughout the country.
The Game
Anna-Karin Hatt is currently the CEO of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF).
If she succeeds in broadening agricultural policy and simultaneously retaining urban voters who have turned to the Center Party, "there are votes to be gained", says Sundström.
She is no dove when it comes to the political game, and what you need to do to hold together. She was involved when things went well for the Center Party and is well-known, which helps.
Anna-Karin Hatt is believed to have strong support within the party. The first test of fire may come when she needs to take a stance on the contentious government issue. Will the Center Party under her leadership continue to set boundaries against both the Sweden Democrats and the Left Party?
The wisest thing would have been to choose to "we discuss our policy, and will not engage in detailed discussions about this for a long time, but go to the election on our own terms", says Mikael Sundström.
A New Old Voice
The "traditional political scientist's view" has been that party leaders can be a liability, but rarely a asset for a party. Yet Sundström believes that Hatt can benefit the party in such a way that she, during her time outside party politics, has avoided commenting on issues that have led to internal factions within the Center Party, and can come in as something new.
In this way, she can become a new old voice in the party.
After losing the party leadership battle against Annie Lööf in 2011, Anna-Karin Hatt continued to cooperate well with Lööf – something that is also considered to benefit her now.
She is competent when it comes to organizing things. If it weren't for Annie Lööf's special political charisma, she would probably already have been party leader and passed that stage, speculates Mikael Sundström.
52 years old.
Grew up in Hylte in Halland, where she was a municipal politician.
CEO of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) and previously, among other things, IT Minister in Fredrik Reinfeldt's government. Lost the party leadership battle in the Center Party against Annie Lööf in 2011 and declined to run for the role as Lööf's successor.
