Can Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist break Sweden's political deadlock?
Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist said she will speak with all parties, including the Left Party and the far-right Sweden Democrats, as she begins to explore options to form a government.
Parliamentary speaker Andreas Norlén on Monday asked her to test the waters for a centrist government.
She told the TT newswire that she approaches the task with humility.
"My ambition is to contribute to a solution to the government question, not to become prime minister myself," she said.
Her preferred option would consist of the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Centre Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals, with Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister.
Thand Ringqvist will, however, invite all party leaders to talks.
"Including Nooshi Dadgostar (Left Party), Ulf Kristersson (Moderates) and Jimmie Åkesson (Sweden Democrats)."
"I want to get a complete overview of the political landscape in this assignment, and understand everyone's reasoning," she said.
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According to Thand Ringqvist, this does not mean that the Centre Party has changed its stance regarding either the Left Party or the Sweden Democrats being in government.
She denied seeing any kind of opening for cooperation with the right wing.
Asked how she judges her chances of success, she said: "There are many deadlocks in Swedish politics that make it difficult to get a strong, decisive centrist government in place. Those deadlocks exist on the left as well. So the starting position is very difficult." (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: a government – en regering
Palantir boss expands massive land grab in rural Sweden
The controversial tech billionaire Alex Karp continues his purchasing of land in the Härjedalen region, reports local newspaper Östersunds-Posten.
According to the newspaper, Karp has acquired another two properties in Storsjö kapell, spanning a total of 300 hectares with a price tag of 5 million kronor.
The purchase is modest compared to his previously reported deal, which saw him snap up nearly 15,000 hectares for 235 million kronor.
These transactions mean that his company now owns the majority of the land south of Lake Storsjön in western Härjedalen, Östersunds-Posten writes.
Karp is the CEO of the controversial data analytics and AI company Palantir Technologies. The firm has faced scrutiny over how its platforms analyse massive amounts of data, which are subsequently used by defence and law enforcement, among others. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: to purchase – att köpa
Police issue ice warning after spate of deadly crashes in Sweden
Police are warning drivers to take extra care, after a day of at least three fatal accidents in western Sweden.
A man aged around 60 died following a collision between a bus and a car near Varberg. Another man aged around 60 lost his life in Mellerud municipality, as did a woman aged around 60 on the island of Tjörn.
"It hasn't dropped below freezing point just yet, but several of our patrols have reported this evening that roads are slippery out there in the west region," police spokesperson Johan Håkansson told the TT newswire on Monday evening.
"That is not to say that slippery conditions were a factor in the serious accidents we unfortunately had this afternoon, but it serves as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong on the roads. With that in mind, there is every reason to drive with caution."
The warning of slippery roads on Tuesday morning applied specifically to the Gävleborg, Uppsala and Västmanland regions, but it could be icy elsewhere as well.
As early as Friday, the Swedish Transport Administration warned that there is an increasing risk of black ice in western Sweden.
"Black ice, also known as flash ice, is extremely treacherous because it is usually invisible, yet makes the road surface exceptionally slick. It often forms when the road surface is cold and damp at temperatures around 0C. It typically becomes slippery late in the evening or early in the morning when temperatures drop," the agency wrote on its website.
Particularly vulnerable spots include bridges, overpasses, areas near bodies of water, and shaded patches along the roadside.
There were also two fatal traffic accidents in the southern region of Skåne on Monday. A man aged around 70 died following a crash on the E6 motorway north of Ängelholm, and a woman aged around 20 died in a collision with a truck outside Åstorp. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: take care – ta det försiktigt
Big jump in Swedes joining unemployment funds as job worries persist
More and more Swedes are signing up for unemployment insurance funds. The third quarter of 2026 saw the largest surge in new members since the pandemic, according to Sveriges a-kassor, the umbrella organisation for Swedish unemployment funds.
The number of members increased by just over 15,000 during the period, marking the strongest growth in a single quarter since the pandemic year of 2020.
"A prolonged economic downturn and high unemployment have led more people to seek out an a-kassa. Member numbers have been growing by 8,000 to 9,000 each quarter, but over the latest quarter that figure has nearly doubled. This suggests people still view the job market as uncertain," said Alejandro Firpo, chair of Sveriges a-kassor, in a statement.
Paying a monthly fee into an unemployment fund means that if you lose your job, you're entitled to retain a higher amount of your salary. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: unemployment – arbetslöshet