On October 15th, parliament voted down Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister in the first decisive vote on a candidate in the chamber since the election.
That means that over five weeks on from election night, Sweden is still without a government.
Norlén on October 19th tasked the Centre Party's Thand Ringqvist with exploring the conditions for a government in the middle, the alternative advocated by her party.
"It is quite reasonable that she is now given the opportunity to get to the bottom of the so-called centrist option," Norlén told a press conference.
Thand Ringqvist is due to report back to the speaker on October 26th.
This does not mean that the Centre Party leader will be the next prime minister candidate. Norlén clarified that he had not asked her to form a government, simply to lead negotiations.
He said that he was still under the impression that Andersson remained the Centre Party's preferred prime minister, but that all options were possible.
"Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist is perhaps not an obvious prime minister candidate," he said.
The Centre Party has previously suggested its preferred government would include, for example, the Social Democrats, Centre Party, Green Party, Christian Democrats and Liberals.
"I am humbled to have been given the speaker's mandate to explore the possibilities of a government in the middle. My ambition is to contribute to a solution to the government issue, not to become prime minister myself. The Centre Party wants to see a decisive government that creates more jobs, reduces emissions and strengthens welfare. I will now invite all party leaders to talks," said Thand Ringqvist in a statement to public broadcaster SVT.