The Centre Party's election committee has begun the work of finding a successor to Muharrem Demirok. The party's districts, federations, and local branches now have the opportunity to nominate candidates for about a week, until March 14.
When we have received the nominations, the election committee will meet the nominees, interview them very thoroughly, and above all, also sound out the support for them in the Centre Party's different parts, says Anders Åkesson, chairman of the Centre Party's election committee.
Proposal at Easter
The election committee will then present its proposal in "good time" before the extraordinary party congress on May 3. This means about two weeks before the congress, i.e., around Easter.
The most important ability of a new party leader, Åkesson describes as "good leadership qualities".
Being able to listen in, gather trust, and lead the party.
The process will, unlike when Annie Lööf and Muharrem Demirok were elected, be internal. Then, the election was carried out through a partially public process where several candidates were questioned in different live broadcasts.
There, they had plenty of time to run a different type of process, says Åkesson.
Muharrem Demirok resigned from the party leadership post last week after great turmoil in the party. The dissatisfaction concerned the party's weak opinion support and the perception that Demirok had tried to get the party to back S-leader Magdalena Andersson as prime ministerial candidate.
Government Issue Hot
In parallel with the party leader election, discussions are ongoing about the party's future direction in the government issue. However, the question will not be settled when a new party leader is elected.
Does the candidate need to have a clear line on the government issue?
We'll see to what extent the members bring up that question in their nominations or what qualities they will point out. The election committee will listen to that, says Åkesson.
The one who is elected as Centre Party leader will have to relate to the policy that the Centre Party establishes.
So far, none of the people who have been mentioned in speculations have announced that they will run. A few have, however, said no, EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner and former Centre top Emil Källström.
Some of those mentioned in speculations:
Member of Parliament Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist
Group leader in Parliament Daniel Bäckström
LRF's CEO Anna Karin Hatt
Law and order spokesperson Ulrika Liljeberg
Member of Parliament Helena Lindahl
EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner - has declined
Former economic policy spokesperson Emil Källström - has declined
