Swedish PM trails Sweden Democrat leader in poll

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has fallen behind the leader of the Sweden Democrats in a major voter confidence survey. The Demoskop poll ranks the Moderate Party leader in third place among the four parties supporting Sweden’s government, a significant drop that undermines his authority as the country heads toward its next election cycle.

Opposition leader Magdalena Andersson currently holds the confidence of 47 percent of voters, up from 45 percent in June. This marks her strongest showing since August 2025, though it remains well below the 59 percent peak she enjoyed in the autumn of 2023. Still, her resurgence highlights a fundamental shift in the public's appetite for leadership.

The most damaging finding for the governing alliance is the internal ranking. Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch sits second overall at 41 percent. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson follows at 38 percent, overtaking Kristersson, who dropped to 37 percent from 39 percent the previous month.

This represents a stark reversal from recent trends. Between the autumn of 2025 and the spring of 2026, confidence in Kristersson was steadily growing while Andersson’s was falling. Kristersson’s current 37 percent rating is his worst result since September 2025.

Analysts attribute this shift to Kristersson’s decision on April 1st to promise the Sweden Democrats ministerial posts following the election. "Andersson has a clear advantage again," said Johan Martinsson, head of opinion at Demoskop. "What we are seeing actually is a continuation of the trend that Ulf Kristersson is having difficulties with the confidence of voters."

The political realignment carries direct implications for Sweden’s public life and economic governance. A prime minister who has lost the confidence of his own right-wing bloc's voters will struggle to maintain cabinet cohesion. Martinsson noted the poor polling has already led to "questioning, internal discussions, dissatisfaction and anxiety" among right-wing supporters.

For European investors and businesses, a weakened prime minister increasingly overshadowed by a far-right coalition partner introduces unpredictability into Swedish policy. The current government relies on a fragile four-party agreement, and a loss of public confidence in its central figure raises the risk of legislative gridlock ahead of the next election.