Speaker tests Ringqvist for premiership as coalition talks drag on
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In a significant political development, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, the leader of the Centre Party, is being formally tested as a candidate for prime minister today. This move by the Speaker of Parliament is part of the ongoing efforts to form a new government after the September 2026 general election, which saw the left-leaning opposition bloc secure a narrow majority. The current caretaker Prime Minister is Ulf Kristersson, whose bloc lost the election, and a previous attempt by Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson to form a government failed.
The country is also grappling with the aftermath of a widespread hacking incident that affected grocery store freezers. An expert now suggests that external assistance was necessary for the sophisticated attack, indicating it could not have been fabricated internally. Separately, the trial of a prominent figure known as 'Scar', suspected of ordering multiple murders, has begun.
Meanwhile, the Sweden Democrats continue to face internal strife, with reports indicating that some national profiles have irritated the party leadership, leading to considerations of withdrawing financial support. On the economic front, the Stockholm Stock Exchange has experienced a notable downturn.