Swedish Voter Trust in Politicians Rises, Yet Varies Widely by Party

Data collected from over 13,000 respondents at 93 polling stations and 68 early-voting locations reveal a growing overall confidence in Swedish politicians relative to past elections. The strongest trust is reported by voters of the Moderates and Liberals, whereas Left Party supporters express the lowest confidence. Compared with the previous election, the combined share of respondents expressing high or moderate trust has risen, continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s and reached its historical high in 2010.

The survey also measured the perceived importance of party leaders in voting decisions, with Jimmie Åkesson of the Sweden Democrats and Ebba Busch of the Christian Democrats ranking at the top. Among supporters of the Sweden Democrats and Christian Democrats, a large majority say their leader heavily influences their vote, while the impact is far lower for voters of the Left and Green parties.