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Poll: More Swedes see country heading right, but majority still pessimistic
🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Poll: More Swedes see country heading right, but majority still pessimistic

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A new poll shows more Swedes believe the country is heading in the right direction, though a majority still feel it is going the wrong way.
  • Pessimism has decreased since the current government took office, with 45% now feeling negative compared to a high of 75% in late 2023.
  • The shift towards optimism is primarily seen among voters supporting the current government, who cite reduced crime and lower migration as positive factors.

More Swedes now believe the country is moving in the right direction, according to a recent poll by DN/Ipsos. While 45 percent still feel the country is heading the wrong way, this is a significant decrease from the 75 percent who felt that way in November 2023.

There is a palpable pessimism in the electorate, but it is lower now than before.

— Nicklas KällebringAn analyst at Ipsos, commenting on the latest poll results regarding public sentiment in Sweden.

"There is a palpable pessimism in the electorate, but it is lower now than before," said Nicklas Källebring, an Ipsos analyst. He noted that the gap between optimists and pessimists has been shrinking for over a year. The current figures show 17 percent believe Sweden is on the right track.

The shift in sentiment is most pronounced among voters supporting the current government, known as the Tidö parties. These voters often point to a decrease in serious crime, tax cuts, and reduced migration as reasons for their improved outlook. However, Källebring observed that voters for opposition parties have not shown a similar shift in optimism.

Not since the last election has such a small proportion felt that development is going in the wrong direction.

— Nicklas KällebringAn analyst at Ipsos, highlighting the decrease in negative sentiment in Sweden.

This suggests the governing parties face an uphill battle in winning over opposition voters. While crime and migration are key issues for the Tidö parties, if opposition supporters do not prioritize these issues, it may not be enough to sway their votes. Källebring warned that a campaign focused solely on crime and migration might struggle to attract new voters.

It is clear that Tidö voters are affected by fewer shootings and that immigration to Sweden has decreased.

— Nicklas KällebringAn analyst at Ipsos, explaining the reasons behind the shift in optimism among government supporters.

Conversely, those who still view the country's direction negatively often cite the government's stricter migration policies, including the deportation of teenagers and plans for child detention, as reasons for their concern. This indicates a clear division in public opinion regarding the government's approach to social and immigration issues.

We see that deportations and tougher migration policies are having an impact. Many believe that re-

— Nicklas KällebringAn analyst at Ipsos, discussing the reasons behind negative sentiment among some voters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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