The Center Party leader Muharrem Demirok announced his resignation over two weeks ago after internal conflicts.
The process of finding his successor is now underway.
Friday is the last day for party members, districts, and regions to nominate candidates, and thereafter the electoral committee will present a name to the extraordinary meeting on May 3.
Leaves the door ajar
Some potential candidates have already declined, including the popular former Member of Parliament Emil Källström and EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner.
Others who have been vague and left the door ajar are the party's economic policy spokesperson Martin Ådahl, Anna-Karin Hatt, CEO of the Farmers' National Association, and Ulrika Liljeberg, justice policy spokesperson.
The Center Party had previously had an open process where candidates were questioned, but that will not be the case this time, quite the opposite.
Several district chairmen do not want to give any details about the party leader election.
It's a process that I discuss with our members, not with the media, says Johan Malmros, C-chairman on Gotland.
His district has submitted several names to the electoral committee, but he absolutely refuses to say who. Martina Hallström, district chairman in Sörmland, is also silent.
We have an internally open process, she says, meaning that the discussion is ongoing within the party.
"No gag order"
Even heavy-weight districts with many representatives – such as Stockholm County, Västra Götaland, and Skåne – refrain from speaking openly.
"The process surrounding the party leader is an internal process, and we will therefore only communicate our opinions and comments to the electoral committee within the Center Party," writes Patrik Buddgård, district chairman in Stockholm County in a comment.
When asked if the districts have in any way received instructions to keep quiet from the party centrally, several chairmen answer no.
No, there is no gag order or anything like that, says Johan Malmros.
The electoral committee is expected to present its proposal two weeks before the meeting, i.e., around Easter.
