In her first speech as party leader, Center Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist says that the Center Party would be happy to be in a government after the next election.
According to her, there are three candidates for prime minister, and the Center Party is ready to negotiate with two of them.
Magdalena Andersson (S), who leads a party that we have collaborated with many times to take responsibility for Sweden.
We have actually, with the Social Democrats, lowered taxes and created better conditions for the country's entrepreneurs. We can do that again.
“Wrong company”
The other person she might consider negotiating with is Ulf Kristersson (M).
He leads a party we have also had good collaborations with. We have even been in government together. Then we reduced emissions and ensured that there were more jobs, she says.
But according to Thand Ringqvist, the Moderates have chosen "the wrong company".
Right now, the Moderates have chosen a collaboration that leads to the completely opposite result, she says, referring to the Sweden Democrats.
According to Thand Ringqvist, the third candidate for prime minister is SD leader Jimmie Åkesson, where the red line is firmly in place.
If the Center Party and the Moderates are to be able to cooperate again, then Ulf Kristersson needs to let go of his dependence on the Sweden Democrats, says Thand Ringqvist.
In the speech, she invites both the S leader and the M leader to individual conversations.
Magdalena Andersson, let's make a visit where we see how jobs can be increased. And Ulf Kristersson, let's make another visit, where we see how emissions can actually be reduced, she says.
Turbulent time
In her speech, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist criticizes the current government's climate policy.
The government is reducing the climate issue to a matter of the level of the reduction obligation. This does not give researchers, entrepreneurs, the business community and investors the clear messages needed to fully implement the green transition, she says.
She takes over after a turbulent time in the party. A month ago, former C-leader Anna-Karin Hatt resigned after less than six months in office.
Thand Ringqvist will be the fourth C-leader during this term of office, which began with Annie Lööf's resignation in September 2022.
Born February 20, 1972 in Sunne parish, Jämtland.
Member of Parliament since 2022. Group leader for C in the Riksdag, business policy spokesperson, sits on the party board.
CEO of Företagarna 2011-2015. Member of several boards over the years, including Skärgårdsstiftelsen and Storskogen Group.
Leisure politician in Östersund City Council 1991–2010.
Political expert to Minister of Industry, Trade and Industry Maud Olofsson 2006–2010.
Master of Science (BSc) in Economics. Studied at the Stockholm School of Economics 1991–1996.
Married to Erik Ringqvist. They have two children, born in 2003 and 2004.
