Swedish PM drops behind Sweden Democrat leader in poll
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has lost his position as the most trusted right-wing leader in Sweden, a shift that threatens to destabilise the governing coalition and complicate future economic policymaking.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has dropped to third place among the leaders of Sweden's governing parties in terms of public confidence. A new Demoskop poll places him behind both Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch and Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson. The survey shows 37 percent of voters now express confidence in the Moderate Party leader, down from 39 percent in June.
Åkesson now commands the confidence of 38 percent of respondents, while Busch holds 41 percent. However, opposition leader Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats maintains a clear lead overall. Her support rose to 47 percent this month, up from 45 percent in June.
For investors and businesses operating in the Nordic region, the poll highlights a fragile political foundation within one of Europe's key economies. A prime minister losing public trust while his coalition rivals gain ground raises questions about the stability of the government's economic agenda.
Prolonged internal division on the right could complicate the passage of business-critical legislation. As parties vie for dominance ahead of the next election, fiscal policy and regulatory measures may face unexpected delays.
The results mark a sharp reversal from recent trends. Confidence in Kristersson had grown steadily between the autumn of 2025 and the spring of 2026, while support for Andersson declined during the same period.
His current 37 percent rating is his worst showing since September 2025. Andersson's 47 percent is her highest since August 2025, though she remains well short of her historical peak of 59 percent in the autumn of 2023.
Analysts point to a specific catalyst for the shift in voter sentiment. On April 1st, Kristersson committed to granting the Sweden Democrats ministerial positions following the next election.
Rather than consolidating the right-wing bloc, this concession appears to have alienated a segment of the Moderate Party's traditional electorate. "Andersson has a clear advantage again," Johan Martinsson, head of opinion at Demoskop, told the SvD newspaper.
"What we are seeing actually is a continuation of the trend that Ulf Kristersson is having difficulties with the confidence of voters." Martinsson noted that the Moderates' poor polling has triggered "questioning, internal discussions, dissatisfaction and anxiety" among right-wing bloc supporters.
