(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The ruling coalition of centre-right parties has gained ground in Sweden, according to a poll by Synovate published in Dagens Nyheter. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Moderate Rally Party (M), the People’s Party Liberals (FpL), the Centre Party (C), or the Christian-Democrats (KD) in the next general election, up 3.1 points since January.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The ruling coalition of centre-right parties has gained ground in Sweden, according to a poll by Synovate published in Dagens Nyheter. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the Moderate Rally Party (M), the People’s Party Liberals (FpL), the Centre Party (C), or the Christian-Democrats (KD) in the next general election, up 3.1 points since January.
The opposition parties in the centre-left—the Workers’ Party – Social-Democrats (S), the Environmental Party – The Greens (MP), and the Left Party (Vp)—remain in first place with 50 per cent. The far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) have the support of 2.7 per cent of respondents—below the threshold to secure seats in the legislature.
Swedish voters renewed the Diet in September 2006. The centre-right alliance secured 178 seats, ending the ten-year tenure of Social-Democrat prime minister Goran Persson. Moderate leader Fredrik Reinfeldt became prime minister in October 2006. In January 2007, former sustainable development minister Mona Sahlin took over as the new leader of the Social-Democrats.
In December 2008, the Swedish government approved a $3.6 billion U.S. package to prevent the collapse of the country’s automakers. Volvo is owned by North American automaker Ford, while Saab is owned by General Motors.
Last month, Saab workers staged demonstrations seeking support for their battered company in Trollhattan. Workers and company executives have urged the government to provide additional assistance to Saab. Sahlin referred to the demonstrations, saying, "There’s a huge amount of bitterness and frustration over the government’s policy. People feel like Saab hasn’t been given a chance and I share their anger."
The next general election in Sweden is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2010.
Polling Data
What party would you support in the next general election?
|
|
Feb. 2009
|
Jan. 2009
|
|
Opposition Parties (Centre-Left)
|
50.0%
|
52.1%
|
|
Workers’ Party – Social-Democrats (S)
|
38.1%
|
40.1%
|
|
Environmental Party – The Greens (MP)
|
6.3%
|
6.0%
|
|
Left Party (Vp)
|
5.6%
|
6.0%
|
|
Governing Alliance (Centre-Right)
|
46.0%
|
42.9%
|
|
Moderate Rally Party (M)
|
28.8%
|
26.8%
|
|
People’s Party Liberals (FpL)
|
7.1%
|
5.9%
|
|
Christian-Democrats (KD)
|
4.9%
|
4.1%
|
|
Centre Party (C)
|
5.2%
|
6.0%
|
|
Sweden Democrats (SD)
|
2.7%
|
3.7%
|
Source: Synovate / Dagens Nyheter
Methodology: Interviews with 2,480 Swede voters, conducted from Feb. 10 to Feb. 25, 2009. Margin of error is 3.0 per cent.
