The appointment of Annie Loof, who took over the Center Party last weekend, raises the party’s profile in the coalition, which is dominated by the Moderate Party of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

“A strong Center Party means the (government) Alliance will feel better,” Reinfeldt told a news conference.

The Alliance was formed in 2005 when four center-right parties put aside years of squabbling to form a united front against the long-ruling Social Democrats.

The Alliance won an election in 2006 and again in 2010, but lost its parliament majority after an anti-immigration party won seats for the first time.

Loof took over from former Center Party leader Maud Olofsson, 52, who was one of the architects of the Alliance with Reinfeldt.

In the 2010 election, the Center Party’s vote fell to 6.6 percent from 7.9 percent. A poll earlier this month gave it a 5.2 percent rating. The Moderate Party won 30 percent of the vote in 2010 and the poll showed its support at 33.5 percent.

As well as Loof entering the cabinet, the government appointed Lena Ek, also of the Center Party, as new environment minister, replacing fellow party member Andreas Carlgren.

As well as the Moderate Party and the Center Party, the coalition includes the Liberal Party and the Christian Democrats.