Internal quarrels in the Center Party meant that Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist lost out on the party leader position two years ago.
Now she will go on locally produced eggshells.
– She will not take one step closer to SD because then the party will die, says a center source.
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist is proposed to take over the Center Party.
Photo: Christine Olsson/TT
The article in brief
Thand Ringqvist is proposed as the new C leader after internal battles and Hatt’s unexpected departure.
She is described as purposeful, strategic – but also “technocratic” and “cold” compared to, for example, Annie Lööf.
Approaching SD is considered out of the question, otherwise the party “dies”, according to sources.
Several times, Thand Ringqvist’s name has stood against others when the election committee was looking for the future leader of the Center Party.
Each time she has drawn the shortest straw.
When the three candidates Thand Ringqvist, Daniel Bäckström and Muharrem Demirok were to travel around the country, Demirok was left alone when the gunpowder smoke cleared.
– It was a messy story. Daniel and Elisabeth were the main favourites, but their backers were openly in love with each other. “Murre” stepped out of it spotless, as the “people’s person” he was seen as internally, says a source.
Then came the revelation about the assault convictions.
– Had it come out before the nomination, Hatt would never have become party leader. Then Thand Ringqvist had already been elected at the first attempt and was now sitting.
This time nothing will stop her.
– She will have the support of the entire party.
“Good suggestion given the situation”
A unanimous selection committee says that Thand Ringqvist personifies “city and country, hand in hand”.
And several party sources that Expressen spoke to see strengths. Great political skill, experienced power player as leader of the parliamentary group, smart, strategic and above all – extremely determined.
– It is a good proposal given the situation, Hatt’s departure was so unexpected, says a centrally located C-source.
The proposal is received with relief.
– I am looking forward to the party turning outwards instead. Unfortunately, within the party it seems to believe that these processes mean that the party reaches out. But we need to focus more on common people’s problems than our own internal problem.
And expectations are high.
– She has the drive and the will, that’s important now. An experienced woman over 50, also good. The challenge will be to be a popular movement leader.
But you think Thand Ringqvist can handle that.
– She is the type who never really fails at anything she sets her mind to, says another source.
But there are also weaknesses.
A center leader is expected to be down to earth and warm. Here, Thand Ringqvist is described by several as “technocratic” and “cold”, in clear contrast to former party leaders Maud Olofsson and Annie Lööf.
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“From now on everyone likes her”
The background, however, is pure center nobility, with a Jämtland father who was an entrepreneur and regional center politician. The center takes movement anchoring very seriously, and she is the second generation. Outwardly, C will wind up, regardless of previous machinations.
– The Center Party works so that from now on everyone likes her. But it is clear, she was chosen in favor of Murre. That says something.
How should the issue of SD be resolved? Innovative, think those the newspaper spoke to. Can’t get too close to SD. Then the party risks dying.
– You have the voters you have. And party leaders have the mandates they get from their party, not the other way around.
– She is far too experienced not to play based on several options, even without SD. But it will be a fiendishly complicated government formation.
Listen to Expressen’s podcast “Politikrummet” about the election of Thand Ringqvist:
