Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist has been unanimously elected as the Centerpartiet leader after elections took place last week at the party’s Congress in Karlstad, Sweden.
In her election speech, she affirmed the party’s firm stance against cooperating with the far-right ahead of elections set for next year.
In her inauguration speech, Ringqvist said:
“There will be more jobs. Emissions will be reduced. Power and welfare will be close to people. Sweden must be governed with faith in the future and optimism - not fear. That is our promise today!”
She also explained that the party is open to joining a government and will negotiate with both the Social Democrats (S&D) and the Moderates (EPP) rather than nominate its own prime ministerial candidate.
Whilst this marked the main highlight at Congress, over 500 motions and four political programmes were also debated alongside the leadership election. The four political programmes focused on education, climate, civil defence and jobs.