Moderates warn of electoral disaster amid internal criticism of Kristersson

Senior figures in Sweden’s Moderate Party are warning of a potential electoral disaster as internal criticism mounts against Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, SVT reports.

Several party members told the broadcaster that voter frustration and strategic missteps—particularly the decision to include the Sweden Democrats in government—risk alienating crucial centrist supporters. Christian Sonesson, a leading Moderate in Staffanstorp, acknowledged that voters may not have embraced Kristersson as hoped, though he defended the prime minister’s record.

Concerns have intensified following reports about the Fållöknas Foundation, run by Kristersson’s wife Birgitta Ed, where volunteers were allegedly promised access to influential networks. Sonesson described the repeated controversies surrounding the prime minister’s family as evidence of “poor judgment.”

One anonymous senior figure compared the current situation to the party’s 2002 collapse, when it won just 15.3% of the vote, warning that Moderaterna’s position in Swedish politics is now under threat. While some remain optimistic, citing high numbers of undecided voters and upcoming television appearances, others report that local campaigners are increasingly forced to address scandals rather than policy.

Polling data published Tuesday showed Kristersson’s approval ratings slipping further behind Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson.