Swedish vote narrows as ruling bloc closes gap with left ahead of Sept 13 poll

A TV4-commissioned Novus poll covering August 24-30 indicates that Sweden’s ruling right-wing coalition has closed to within 2.6 percentage points of the centre-left opposition, a shift from the 6.9-point lead recorded in the previous survey. The poll, based on responses from 2,984 voters, shows the centre-left bloc at 50.3% and the government at 47.7%, a margin that falls inside the survey’s error range and represents the narrowest gap of any poll this year.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in office since 2022, is now seeking re-election against Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson, who had been projected to win comfortably. Campaign themes include preserving Sweden’s welfare system, addressing cost-of-living pressures, and handling security, immigration and energy concerns. The left-leaning parties remain divided, with the Centre Party and the Left Party each refusing to join a government that includes the other, potentially leading to a minority administration. The Liberal Party, part of the governing coalition, rose to 3.3%—its best showing in months—but still fell short of the 4% threshold needed for parliamentary seats.