Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist was elected as the new leader of the Centerpartiet at the congress in Karlstad. In her speech, she prioritized rural welfare, climate, and growth, inviting prime ministerial candidates Magdalena Andersson and Ulf Kristersson to discuss stopping SD's influence. She emphasized that the party's support comes with demands, such as 57 billion kronor for easier hiring.
At the Centerpartiet congress in Karlstad on November 13, 2025, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist took the stage to the sounds of Stevie Wonder's 'Sir Duke'. She is the party's fourth leader this term and followed her predecessor by highlighting key issues: welfare in rural areas, climate, and increased growth for more jobs. With characteristic Centerpartiet optimism, she stressed the party's role as a solution-oriented force amid a bleak reality.
Following the turbulence around previous leaders Muharrem Demirok and Anna-Karin Hatt's unexpected exit, Thand Ringqvist avoided clear statements on government support. Instead, she invited Ulf Kristersson (M) and Magdalena Andersson (S) for a visit to 'reality', focusing on more jobs. Known internally as 'ETR', she made it clear that support has a price – for instance, 57 billion kronor next term to make hiring cheaper.
In practice, Centerpartiet has no realistic alternative to backing an S-led government to counter the Sweden Democrats' influence, according to analyses. Thand Ringqvist pointed to Andersson as the only viable prime ministerial candidate: 'Magdalena Andersson leads a party that we have often collaborated with to take responsibility for Sweden.' An explicit endorsement is likely to be delayed to avoid internal turmoil and improve negotiating position. The recent chaos in the government question eases pressure on her, but the challenge remains: voters often do not know what C's policies entail.
