Dagens Nyheter41 minutes agoPolitics1 min read

SD backs in election survey - the mood dropped at the election vigil in Solna

Quick Look

According to SVT's election survey, the Sweden Democrats fall back to 17.2 percent, compared to over 20 percent in 2022, and lose the position as the second largest party to the Moderates.
The atmosphere at the vigil in Solna was subdued when the results were presented, with reactions from party leaders such as Linda Lindberg and Richard Jomshof.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The Sweden Democrats had over 20 percent in the 2022 parliamentary election and were then the second largest party after the Social Democrats. Before this election, there were expectations of maintaining or increasing support.

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SD bumblebees hung from the ceiling, invited guests took selfies with the party leaders and Kikki Danielsson's "Bra vibrations" was played before the participants of SD's election vigil in Solna gathered around the big screens to watch when SVT's election survey was presented.

Then the mood dropped considerably at the vigil. According to SVT, the party backs down to 17.2 percent - compared to an election result of over 20 percent in 2022. In addition, it loses its position as the second largest party - and ends up below the Moderates.

- What the fuck, that can't be right, SD's election watcher shouted when the screen showed that the Moderates were the second largest party.

The party leaders stood in front of the stage equipped with large bumblebees to wave - but they became quiet and noticeably serious. SD leader Linda Lindberg says she was united when she saw that SD, according to SVT, had fallen back to 17.2 percent.

- It's no fun for a party that loses influence. If this happens, it is bad for Sweden, she says.

She says that it is important to have ice in the stomach.

- So I have to think about this a bit now and then we'll see how it develops during the evening here, she says.

SD veteran Richard Jomshof is standing eating a cheesecake when DN catches him in the now somewhat muted frenzy.

- Incredibly depressing. That's how you can sum it up, he says.

He says that it was understood that there was a risk that the party would back down for the first time in a parliamentary election.

- Cooperation means compromises and there will always be some core voters who do not appreciate that you can back down on central issues. So we knew there was a risk, but maybe not this much.

He hopes that the election survey is "poorly conducted" and turns out to be incorrect.

- I don't want to believe it's true, says Richard Jomshof.

Statistics from SVT show that SD has lost six percent of voters to the Moderates and four percent to the Christian Democrats.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

SD will analyze the reasons for the decline and adjust its strategy before the upcoming elections.
Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

Will SD's support recover before the next election?
How will the loss to the Moderates and the Christian Democrats affect SD's policy?
Will other parties change their strategy towards SD after this result?