Kristersson calls on speaker to force parliamentary vote to break Swedish government deadlock
Parliamentary speaker Andreas Norlén has not yet announced how he intends to proceed in the process of forming Sweden's new government, but Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson believes the next step should be to have parliament vote on Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson again.
On Monday, Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist announced that there is no support for a centrist government with Magdalena Andersson as prime minister. As The Local has previously explained, that puts the ball back in the speaker's court, who is currently holding talks with all party leaders on the next move.
"This has to end in parliamentary votes so we can move forward; otherwise we could go on like this forever," the TT news agency quoted Kristersson as saying.
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If no prime minister has been approved after four votes in parliament, a snap election must be held.
Kristersson is scheduled to hold a phone call with the speaker on Tuesday afternoon, during a break at the Nordic Council meeting in Helsinki. He will argue the same as before: if the speaker believes that there is enough support in parliament for a non-socialist government, Kristersson is ready to try to form such a coalition.
"However, the speaker has to be the conductor (of the orchestra) now, the one who dictates what happens next," he said.
The speaker still has three attempts left at putting a candidate to a vote in parliament. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: a conductor – en dirigent
Poll: Sweden's right-wing bloc takes clear lead over left wing
Following strong gains for the Moderate Party and the Sweden Democrats, a new poll has the right-wing side nearly four percentage points higher than their left-wing rivals.
The survey, by Ipsos on behalf of the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper, was carried out between October 13th and 25th, polling 1,589 eligible voters.
"It's a warning sign for the red-greens if a snap election were to be called," Ipsos analyst Nicklas Källebring told DN about the centre-left's lukewarm performance.
This marks the first time in the poll since October 2022 that the bloc supporting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has held an advantage over the parties backing Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson.
The Moderates and the Sweden Democrats are driving the right-wing surge, polling at approximately 24 and 19 percent respectively in rounded figures. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: red-greens – rödgröna, the informal name for Sweden's centre-left bloc
Doctor released from custody following circumcision investigation in Uppsala
A man of was arrested during a major police operation in the university town of Uppsala on Sunday has been released from custody.
The investigation concerns the circumcision of boys, according to the prosecutor. The man remains under investigation.
"Following interviews with several people involved and technical investigative measures, I have today decided to release the man. The suspicions against him remain for the time being, and an investigation will now determine whether the procedure was carried out under safe conditions," prosecutor Emma Haals said in a statement.
The man – a licensed doctor who, according to prosecutors, performs circumcisions on boys in a private practice – is suspected of assault.
Around ten people were held in connection with the police raid, but all except the doctor were released on the same day. The suspicions against one individual have been dropped entirely.
The arrests were made after a young boy required surgery in hospital following a circumcision procedure, the prosecutor wrote.
The boy was discharged from hospital on Monday.
"The injured parties we are dealing with in this case are exclusively boys, and there is currently no information to suggest that any girls have been affected," Haals said. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: circumcision – omskärelse
Swedish finance minister prepares caretaker budget stripped of campaign promises
As Sweden doesn't yet have a new government, outgoing Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson will present a caretaker budget in November. It will be completely devoid of election pledges and fresh policy initiatives – however, funding for Crown Princess Victoria's 50th birthday celebrations has been safeguarded, Svantesson reassured any concerned royalists.
"She only turns 50 once, and that's next year, so I think it's entirely reasonable," she said.
The finance minister outlined the guidelines for the transitional budget, which she has to put forward by November 12th, at a press conference on October 27th.
A guiding principle for a caretaker government's budget is that no new spending items are to be introduced, but Victoria's birthday celebrations have nevertheless been included.
In budget terms, however, the sum involved is modest – four million kronor.
"I think all parties, from left to right, consider that reasonable," Svantesson said.
Broadly speaking, spending levels from this year's budget will roll over into next year, apart from customary index-linking for prices and wages.
A few allocations will see increases regardless. The Swedish Armed Forces, for instance, will receive a boost to manage ongoing rearmament efforts – a move backed across the board by all parties.
Once Svantesson presents the budget to parliament, the other parties will have until November 27th to table amendments, either individually or jointly.
No party has yet indicated whether they will attempt to challenge the transitional government's budget. (TT/The Local)
Swedish vocabulary: guidelines – riktlinjer