Swedish parties in secret election talks: report
TT/The Local/pvs - [email protected]
Published: 22 Dec, 2014 CET.
Updated: Mon 22 Dec 2014 16:21 CET
The government and opposition parties are reported to be conducting negotiations in a bid to avoid government chaos, putting the new March election in doubt, according to a media report.
Representatives for the government parties and the Alliance opposition are discussing how a minority government (the rule in Swedish politics) can govern without periodic crises, reported Sveriges Television (SVT). "The talks began a few days ago, but not at party leader level. From the government side it is primarily finance minister Magdalena Andersson and from the Alliance side a couple of their economic police spokespeople," said SVT reporter Kerstin Holm. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's press secretary Erik Nises has confirmed that "constructive" talks have been conducted on matters such as defence, foreign policy and praxis for minority government. Reports say talks could lead to the new election, yet to be formally announced by the Löfven government, to be called off. Nises however indicated that the plan remains to call a new election for March. "We are still working on that plan," he told TT. SVT sources said the negotiations are focused on how a minority government can govern and be able to get its budget through parliament. The Alliance party leaders have previously stated that they are prepared to talk on a series of formality issues to try to establish a new parliamentary praxis to avoid a repeat of the instability caused by the Sweden Democrats' decision to vote for the Alliance budget. According to Swedish constitutional rules the government is unable to call a new election until December 29th. The election would then be held on March 22nd.
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Representatives for the government parties and the Alliance opposition are discussing how a minority government (the rule in Swedish politics) can govern without periodic crises, reported Sveriges Television (SVT).
"The talks began a few days ago, but not at party leader level. From the government side it is primarily finance minister Magdalena Andersson and from the Alliance side a couple of their economic police spokespeople," said SVT reporter Kerstin Holm.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven's press secretary Erik Nises has confirmed that "constructive" talks have been conducted on matters such as defence, foreign policy and praxis for minority government.
Reports say talks could lead to the new election, yet to be formally announced by the Löfven government, to be called off. Nises however indicated that the plan remains to call a new election for March.
"We are still working on that plan," he told TT.
SVT sources said the negotiations are focused on how a minority government can govern and be able to get its budget through parliament.
The Alliance party leaders have previously stated that they are prepared to talk on a series of formality issues to try to establish a new parliamentary praxis to avoid a repeat of the instability caused by the Sweden Democrats' decision to vote for the Alliance budget.
According to Swedish constitutional rules the government is unable to call a new election until December 29th. The election would then be held on March 22nd.
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