Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Sweden Election Tightens as Ruling Coalition Closes Gap
Sweden will hold an election for parliament on September 13.
A new poll says the centre-left parties are only slightly ahead of the ruling right-wing coalition.
The centre-left has 50.3% support, while the coalition has 47.7%.
The difference is small enough that either side could win.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wants to remain in office.
Magdalena Andersson leads the Social Democrats and the centre-left opposition.
Voters are focused on welfare services, living costs, security, immigration and energy.
If the centre-left wins, disagreements between its parties could make forming a government difficult.
A TV4-Novus poll puts the centre-left bloc at 50.3% and the ruling coalition at 47.7%.
The 2.6-point gap is within the poll’s margin of error and is the narrowest reported this year.
The survey was conducted among 2,984 voters between August 24 and 30, ahead of the September 13 election.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking re-election against centre-left leader Magdalena Andersson.
The Liberal Party received 3.3%, below the 4% parliamentary threshold but its strongest showing in months.
- Who
- Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s ruling right-wing coalition and the centre-left opposition led by Magdalena Andersson.
- What
- A poll shows the centre-left narrowly ahead of the ruling coalition before Sweden’s parliamentary election.
- When
- The poll was conducted August 24–30; the election is scheduled for September 13.
- Where
- Sweden.
- Why
- The election is focused on welfare services, cost-of-living issues, security, immigration and energy supply.
Centre-left opposition
Ruling right-wing coalition
Election outlook
Centre-left opposition
The centre-left bloc leads the poll with 50.3%, but its advantage is small and within the margin of error.
Ruling right-wing coalition
The ruling coalition has risen to 47.7% and has nearly caught up, meaning either side could win.
Government formation
Centre-left opposition
The Social Democrats could lead a government if the centre-left wins, but the Centre Party and Left Party have ruled out joining a government together.
Ruling right-wing coalition
A centre-left victory could produce lengthy negotiations or a minority government because of disagreements among opposition parties.
Liberal Party position
Centre-left opposition
The Liberal Party’s 3.3% polling result is below the 4% threshold needed to win parliamentary seats.
Ruling right-wing coalition
The result is still the Liberal Party’s best showing in months and provides a boost to the ruling coalition.
- Centre-left support
- 50.3% in the TV4-Novus poll.
- Ruling coalition support
- 47.7% in the TV4-Novus poll.
- Polling gap
- 2.6 percentage points, within the margin of error.
- Survey period
- August 24–30.
- Survey sample
- 2,984 voters.
- Election date
- September 13.
- Liberal Party result
- 3.3%, below the 4% threshold for parliamentary seats.