Confidence in monarchy rises
Swedes have rising confidence in their national institutions, with the monarchy, parliament and government all gaining. But while the healthcare system, police and the royals all inspire confidence, unions and the EU leave people unimpressed.
The poll, by the SOM Institute at Gothenburg University, proved particularly good news for King Carl Gustaf.
45 percent said they thought the monarchy was doing a good job, while only 19 percent thought it was doing a bad job. The remaining 36 percent said they were neutral on the question. The royals have thereby regained much of the ground lost between 2003 and 2005, during which time confidence in the monarchy had dipped. The dip coincided with controversial statements by the king while on a state visit to Brunei, in which he praised the Sultan's 'closeness to his people'.
The European Parliament's ratings also improved since previous surveys, although it still inspired relatively little confidence among those who responded. Only 13 percent gave the parliament good marks, while 41 percent said they had little faith in the institution. The European Commission fared little better, with those who did not trust the institution outnumbering those who did by 26 percentage points.
The results for the EU contrast with those for the United Nations, the only other international organization in the survey. 44 percent said they had confidence in the UN, compared to 18 percent who did not.
Unions fared badly, as they have done in previous surveys by SOM. 41 percent had little or very little confidence in the labour organizations, while only 21 percent had great or very great confidence.
Of all institutions, the health service was that which inspired most confidence in Swedish citizens, with 57 percent saying that they believed it was doing a good job.
31 percent said they have confidence in the government, compared to 28 percent who said they did not. 33 percent said they had confidence in parliament, compare to 28 percent who did not.
The postal survey was completed by 3,336 people out of a randomly selected group of 6,000.
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The poll, by the SOM Institute at Gothenburg University, proved particularly good news for King Carl Gustaf.
45 percent said they thought the monarchy was doing a good job, while only 19 percent thought it was doing a bad job. The remaining 36 percent said they were neutral on the question. The royals have thereby regained much of the ground lost between 2003 and 2005, during which time confidence in the monarchy had dipped. The dip coincided with controversial statements by the king while on a state visit to Brunei, in which he praised the Sultan's 'closeness to his people'.
The European Parliament's ratings also improved since previous surveys, although it still inspired relatively little confidence among those who responded. Only 13 percent gave the parliament good marks, while 41 percent said they had little faith in the institution. The European Commission fared little better, with those who did not trust the institution outnumbering those who did by 26 percentage points.
The results for the EU contrast with those for the United Nations, the only other international organization in the survey. 44 percent said they had confidence in the UN, compared to 18 percent who did not.
Unions fared badly, as they have done in previous surveys by SOM. 41 percent had little or very little confidence in the labour organizations, while only 21 percent had great or very great confidence.
Of all institutions, the health service was that which inspired most confidence in Swedish citizens, with 57 percent saying that they believed it was doing a good job.
31 percent said they have confidence in the government, compared to 28 percent who said they did not. 33 percent said they had confidence in parliament, compare to 28 percent who did not.
The postal survey was completed by 3,336 people out of a randomly selected group of 6,000.
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