Åkesson on opinion polls: Time is running short

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson has sounded an alarm about the party's standing in opinion polls, warning that "time is running short" to close the gap with opponents. Speaking at the party's election kickoff event, Åkesson acknowledged that the Tidö parties, including his own, are trailing in the polls.

Despite the challenging numbers, Åkesson asserted that the Sweden Democrats have "nothing to be ashamed of" individually. However, he stressed the importance of the collective "team" winning, drawing a parallel to the close election results in the previous cycle, where the outcome remained uncertain until election night. He emphasized that every moment counts in the remaining months before the election.

Åkesson described the current situation as "slightly surreal," expressing disbelief that the party faces a tough campaign and a significant deficit to overcome. He found it "illogical and incomprehensible" that current poll standings exist, questioning why anyone would desire a return to the past political landscape. "It is actually completely incomprehensible that a single person in Sweden could want back what was before," he stated.

The party leader identified specific demographic groups where the Sweden Democrats need to improve their standing. These include women, residents of major metropolitan areas, and people in neighborhoods with high immigrant populations. Åkesson outlined a strategy to focus on women working in the welfare sector and on "decent and hard-working people in problem areas" to reduce the electoral gap.