Swedish voters divided on compromise in government formation, two parties stand apart

A new survey shows Swedish voters are sharply split over whether parties should compromise to form a government after September’s election, with supporters of the Sweden Democrats and Left Party standing out for their unwillingness to bend, SVT Nyheter reports.

The Indikator Opinion poll found 47% of voters believe parties should be prepared to compromise to secure a government, while 40% think parties should hold firm on their positions—even if it triggers a new election. The divide deepens among party lines: 57% of Sweden Democrats voters and 51% of Left Party voters insist their parties should refuse compromise, risking a fresh vote. Among Liberal voters, only 23% share that stance, with most favoring flexibility.

Six in ten voters overall say parties should clarify their preferred coalition partners before the election, rather than negotiating afterward based on results.

The survey, conducted April 1–27, sampled 1,842 respondents from a pool of 4,584 eligible voters, with a 40% response rate. Results were weighted by gender, age, and 2022 election voting patterns.