Key facts
- A Novus poll indicates Sweden's ruling right-wing bloc is closing the gap with the centre-left opposition ahead of the general election.
- The Liberal party has risen to 4.3% in the latest poll, clearing the 4% threshold required to gain seats in parliament.
- The poll shows 50.3% support for the four centre-left parties and 47.9% for the three-party government and its support party.
- The gap between the blocs has narrowed by 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous Novus poll.
STOCKHOLM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Sweden's ruling right-wing bloc has further closed the gap with the centre-left opposition ahead of Sunday's general election, according to a new opinion poll by Novus. The poll indicates that the Liberal party has reached the 4% threshold needed to enter parliament for the first time in years.
Earlier surveys had suggested a near-certain victory for the opposition, led by Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson. However, the latest polls indicate that the government of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in power since 2022, may still secure re-election.
The Novus poll, published by commercial broadcaster TV4, showed 50.3% support for the four centre-left parties, while the three-party government and its support party, the Sweden Democrats, garnered 47.9%.
The gap between the two blocs has narrowed by 0.2 percentage points since Novus' previous poll. The Liberal party, a junior coalition partner, rose to 4.3% from 3.3%, clearing the threshold to win seats and alleviating concerns that the party might lose its 16 seats and the coalition its majority.
Three weeks prior, a poll by a different agency showed the centre-left holding a 10-percentage-point lead, which political scientists at the time deemed a nearly insurmountable margin to overcome before election day. Novus surveyed 2,888 voters between September 1 and September 5.