What happened
Ulf Kristersson has an exploratory mandate to try to gather a majority in the Riksdagen for a new government. To succeed, Centerpartiet must agree to sit in or support the same government base as Sverigedemokraterna. Such a solution would require a complete U-turn by Centerpartiet. Centerpartiet's leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist reiterated during the day the party's red lines against giving Sverigedemokraterna influence.
Our analysis
In standard news coverage, government formation is described as a tactical math game. Commentators count seats and talk about deadlocks. But for the country's new Swedes, this is not about a tactical game. It is about security, residence permits, family reunification, and the right not to be viewed with suspicion in their own home country.
The question that should be asked is why cooperation with the populist and anti-immigration Sverigedemokraterna is seen as a reasonable way forward at all by traditional right-wing parties. When the door is held open to demands that restrict new Swedes' rights, a policy that divides society is normalized.
The political game shows who is prepared to compromise fundamental principles of the equal value of all people to attain power. Both new and old Swedes deserve leadership that builds the country together, not one that negotiates with parties whose entire idea is based on singling out people as problems.
Explained
An exploratory mandate means that the Speaker gives a party leader the task of investigating whether there is sufficient support in the Riksdagen to form a government.