Moderates in decline: poll
Sweden’s ruling Moderate Party has received the lowest poll results since the general election, according to fresh figures from research company Synovate and daily Dagens Nyheter (DN).
“The drop in support for the Moderates was larger than expected. The financial crisis benefited the party initially. But since then, the government has presented a budget lacking in any great innovations,” said Niclas Källebring, opinion analyst at Synovate to DN.
According to him, the question has been raised after the budget presentation if the Moderates is a party lacking in new and fresh ideas.
Ever since the 2010 general election, the figures for Fredrik Reinfeldt’s Moderates have remained above the election result.
Currently, at 31.7 percent of votes they maintain their position above that result, but have dropped 5.2 percentage points since August.
According to the paper, the Social Democrats got 34.1 percent (+1.3) in the September poll, which is their best result since April 2009.
The Centre Party has dragged itself over the 4 percent Riksdag threshold and managed a 5.4 percent (+1.6).
“But it is way too early to talk about some kind of ‘Annie-effect’, said Källebring, referring to the new party head Annie Lööf, who is hoped by many to breathe new life into the party.
The Christian Democrats are still struggling and remain under the 4 percent threshold in the September poll. The Left Party has scrambled over at 4.9 percent (+1.2)and the Greens remain stable at 8.3 percent (-0.1).
According to the fresh figures, the Liberals (Folkpartiet) lost two percentage points and did their worst poll since November 2008, with 5.5 percent.
In August, the Sweden Democrats had fallen from 4.8 percent in June to 2.9 percent in the August poll, which represents a loss of 40 percent of its sympathizers.
At the time, Källebring said that the dramatic fall could be explained by the twin terror attacks in Norway and the ensuing controversy over comments by some SD party members.
"It is a direct effect of the fatal shootings on Utøya. I can't interpret the decline in any other way," he said at the time.
In the September poll the Sweden Democrats were back at a more normal level, at 5.1 percent (+2.2).
The government parties are now on 46.4 percent to 47.3 percent for the red-green opposition.
2,685 Swedes took part in the poll, through telephone interviews carried out between the 12th and 28th of
Comments
See Also
“The drop in support for the Moderates was larger than expected. The financial crisis benefited the party initially. But since then, the government has presented a budget lacking in any great innovations,” said Niclas Källebring, opinion analyst at Synovate to DN.
According to him, the question has been raised after the budget presentation if the Moderates is a party lacking in new and fresh ideas.
Ever since the 2010 general election, the figures for Fredrik Reinfeldt’s Moderates have remained above the election result.
Currently, at 31.7 percent of votes they maintain their position above that result, but have dropped 5.2 percentage points since August.
According to the paper, the Social Democrats got 34.1 percent (+1.3) in the September poll, which is their best result since April 2009.
The Centre Party has dragged itself over the 4 percent Riksdag threshold and managed a 5.4 percent (+1.6).
“But it is way too early to talk about some kind of ‘Annie-effect’, said Källebring, referring to the new party head Annie Lööf, who is hoped by many to breathe new life into the party.
The Christian Democrats are still struggling and remain under the 4 percent threshold in the September poll. The Left Party has scrambled over at 4.9 percent (+1.2)and the Greens remain stable at 8.3 percent (-0.1).
According to the fresh figures, the Liberals (Folkpartiet) lost two percentage points and did their worst poll since November 2008, with 5.5 percent.
In August, the Sweden Democrats had fallen from 4.8 percent in June to 2.9 percent in the August poll, which represents a loss of 40 percent of its sympathizers.
At the time, Källebring said that the dramatic fall could be explained by the twin terror attacks in Norway and the ensuing controversy over comments by some SD party members.
"It is a direct effect of the fatal shootings on Utøya. I can't interpret the decline in any other way," he said at the time.
In the September poll the Sweden Democrats were back at a more normal level, at 5.1 percent (+2.2).
The government parties are now on 46.4 percent to 47.3 percent for the red-green opposition.
2,685 Swedes took part in the poll, through telephone interviews carried out between the 12th and 28th of
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.