August 07, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Sweden’s alliance of opposition left-leaning parties remains ahead, according to a poll by Demoskop published in Expressen. 56.2 per cent of respondents would vote for the Workers’ Party - Social-Democrats (S), the Environmental Party - The Greens (MP), or the Left Party (Vp) in the next general election.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Sweden’s alliance of opposition left-leaning parties remains ahead, according to a poll by Demoskop published in Expressen. 56.2 per cent of respondents would vote for the Workers’ Party - Social-Democrats (S), the Environmental Party - The Greens (MP), or the Left Party (Vp) in the next general election.

The governing centre-right alliance of the Moderate Rally Party (M), the People’s Party Liberals (FpL), the Centre Party (C), and the Christian-Democrats (KD) is behind with 39.2 per cent. The far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) garner the support of 2.6 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 June, the Swedish government approved a controversial law that will allow authorities to spy on all international emails, faxes and phone calls without a court order starting in 2009. The government has explained the measure as a tool to fight international threats, including terrorism.

The decision provoked protests from different sectors of Swedish society, including journalists, lawyers and members of the information technology industry. Moderate party member Karl Sigfrid outlined his opposition to the directive a day before it was approved, saying, "Mass surveillance of Swedish citizens is a measure that is not proportionate to the problems Swedish authorities are expected to solve."

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next general election?

	Jul. 2008	May 2008
Opposition Parties (Centre-Left)	56.2%	56.8%
Workers’ Party - Social-Democrats (S)	43.5%	44.1%
Environmental Party - The Greens (MP)	6.9%	6.8%
Left Party (Vp)	5.8%	5.9%
Governing Alliance (Centre-Right)	39.2%	38.0%
Moderate Rally Party (M)	24.4%	21.9%
People’s Party Liberals (FpL)	6.3%	6.3%
Centre Party (C)	5.4%	6.0%
Christian-Democrats (KD)	3.1%	3.8%
Sweden Democrats (SD)	2.6%	4.2%

Source: Demoskop / Expressen
Methodology: Interviews with 1,000 Swede voters, conducted from Jun. 25 to Jul. 1, 2008. No margin of error was provided.