SD voters go against the Tidö line - want Åkesson as prime minister

A new poll shows that a majority of the SD's own voters do not support the Tidö deal. At the same time, the party leadership insists on allowing Ulf Kristersson to become prime minister.

After the press conference where the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats presented their plan for a joint government, a survey now points in a different direction.

According to Novus 58% of SD voters say they want to see Jimmie Åkesson as prime minister if the Tidö parties win the election.

This means that a majority of the party's own voters prefer a different solution than the one currently on the table.

– A large part of the electorate is not on board with the new line, at least not yet, says Novus CEO Torbjörn Sjöström.

The deal: influence instead of prime ministership

The agreement between the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats means that the SD will allow Ulf Kristersson as prime minister. In exchange, the party is expected to gain ministerial posts and greater influence over policy, including on migration.

This is a clear strategic shift, with the focus on substantive policy and government influence rather than the premiership.

But the poll shows that this change is not fully shared by the voter base.

– The challenge for Åkesson is that a vote for the SD is a vote for Ulf Kristersson as prime minister. And more than half of his voters would rather have Åkesson.

Divided picture - but some support

At the same time, there is some support for the new line. According to the survey, 32% of SD voters say they want or can accept Kristersson as prime minister.

Kristersson is also the party leader that most voters overall can tolerate in the role, indicating a broader acceptance outside the party's core voters.

Elections determine the direction

The survey highlights a key issue in the run-up to the elections: how well the party leadership's strategy matches voters' expectations.

At the same time, it is only after the elections that it will be decided how the government is actually formed and what influence each party will have in practice.