Sweden Democrats blame voter turnout for election setback

The Sweden Democrats have fallen to 17.5 per cent in Sweden’s parliamentary election, according to figures reported by SVT, marking the first time the party has lost ground in a national election.

The final result was not yet confirmed on Monday afternoon. The party received 20.5 per cent in 2022, after which it was invited to join the Tidö cooperation.

Tobias Andersson, one of the party’s leading figures, said the Sweden Democrats had struggled to adjust from being an opposition party to taking on a different role.

He also suggested that low turnout may have hurt the party.

“I think some of our voters chose not to vote. We need to evaluate that,” Andersson said.

The party also lost support among its youngest eligible voters. In the 18 to 21 age group, its share fell by 7 percentage points, according to SVT.

Andersson said the result was difficult to understand, noting that young people had responded positively during his campaigning at schools and elsewhere in Sweden.

“We will be able to win back the young voters. I am not worried about that,” he said.

The Sweden Democrats also lost ground in regions including Skåne, where the party has traditionally been strong, as well as in northern Sweden and Dalarna. Some of the losses went to the Moderate Party.

Andersson said the Moderates’ ministers may have had better opportunities to build profiles on important policy issues because the Sweden Democrats were not part of the government.

Party secretary Mattias Bäckström Johansson said the setback could partly be explained by the party having entered the election as part of the Tidö cooperation and having taken responsibility during the previous parliamentary term.

He also said some voters may have given tactical support to the Liberals.

“I think the Sweden Democrats have run their best election campaign ever. There is a lot to be proud of,” Bäckström Johansson told SVT. “But there is clearly disappointment right now at losing ground in a parliamentary election, even though this election had unusual circumstances.”