HELSINKI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen on Monday tasked Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, leader of the Centre Party, with exploring the possibility of forming a new government.
Despite the decision, Norlen acknowledged at a press conference that there was no clear consensus among political parties on who should be tasked with exploring government formation.
Thand Ringqvist has to report back to the speaker by next Monday.
In a statement to Swedish Television (SVT), Thand Ringqvist said "My ambition is to contribute to a solution to the government question, not to become prime minister myself," adding that she would invite all party leaders for talks.
The Centre Party emerged as the third-largest party in the opposition bloc, winning 25 seats in September's general election. Together with the Social Democratic Party, Left Party and Green Party, the four parties secured 176 seats in the 349-member parliament, giving them a narrow majority but leaving them divided over the composition of a new government.
Norlen first tasked Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson with exploring government formation on Sept. 18, following outgoing Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's request to be relieved of his duties after the election.
Andersson returned the mandate on Sept. 28 amid divisions within the bloc over the election of the parliamentary speaker. Norlen reassigned her the task in early October, but negotiations remained inconclusive. Parliament rejected a proposal for Andersson to become prime minister and form a Social Democratic single-party government last Thursday, prompting a new round of efforts to break the political deadlock. ■