Poll: They Want Åkesson as Prime Minister

After the Sweden Democrats reached an agreement with the Liberals, it was time for the Moderates to open up for SD in a government after this autumn’s election. This move comes in exchange for SD supporting Ulf Kristersson as prime minister for another term. However, SD voters would rather see Jimmie Åkesson in that role.

At a press conference last week, Ulf Kristersson (M) and Jimmie Åkesson (SD) announced that they had reached an agreement on how to proceed in the next parliamentary term if they win the election in September. According to Kristersson, the Sweden Democrats will have significant influence over policy areas and important ministerial posts.

A majority of SD voters would rather see Åkesson as prime minister. In a new survey from Novus, 58 percent of surveyed SD voters say they prefer the SD leader in the top post.

– A large part of the voters are not on board with the new direction, at least not yet, says Torbjörn Sjöström, CEO at Novus.

According to Sjöström, the challenge for Åkesson is that a vote for SD becomes a vote for Ulf Kristersson as prime minister, even though over half of his voters would rather see Åkesson himself.

Magdalena Andersson as Prime Minister

At the same time, 32 percent say that they either want or can accept Kristersson as prime minister. If the red-green bloc wins, 56 percent of all voters say they want or can accept Magdalena Andersson as prime minister.

As many as 44 percent of those voting for M, L or KD and nearly one in four SD voters can tolerate a government led by Andersson.