The national-conservative Sweden Democrats (SD) have recorded record support of 23.9 percent in the latest survey conducted by the Novus institute. This historic result – an increase of 2.9 percentage points in just one month – coincides with the tragic death of American activist Charlie Kirk, which has shaken conservative public opinion worldwide. Kirk was very popular among Swedish right-wing voters.
The poll, conducted for the newspaper Goeteborgs-Posten and TV4, highlights profound shifts in Swedish public sentiment.
Experts link this sudden rise in SD’s popularity to the tragic events in the United States. Hjalmar Strid, an analyst at Novus, directly pointed to this correlation. “Kirk was an extremely important figure for young men in Sweden, who make up a large share of SD voters,” Strid emphasized.
The Martyrdom of a Conservative Voice for the Young Generation
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and close associate of President Donald Trump, was murdered on September 10 during a debate at Utah Valley University. In front of thousands of people, he was shot in the neck and died after being transported to the hospital. The perpetrator turned out to be 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who admitted in text messages that he killed Kirk because “he was fed up with his hatred.”
Kirk’s death, in which his mission was to mobilize young conservative voters, reverberated widely. President Donald Trump called him “a martyr of American freedom” and announced that he would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Forty thousand people attended the commemoration ceremonies for the activist at a stadium in Arizona. For many young conservatives, including in Sweden, Kirk has become a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech and the values for which he paid the ultimate price.
Government on the Defensive, the Right Growing Stronger
The record 23.9 percent result for the Sweden Democrats means that this national-conservative party now enjoys more support than the entire three-party, center-right-liberal coalition governing the country since 2022. This is a powerful warning signal for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government.
The ratings of the parties forming the cabinet are alarmingly low. The prime minister’s Moderate Party can count on just 17 percent support. Its coalition partners are teetering on the brink of survival – the Christian Democrats stand at 3.1 percent, while the Liberals are at 3 percent, putting them at risk of failing to clear the four-percent parliamentary threshold in the next elections.
The Key to Success?
The Sweden Democrats have for years built their support on a hardline stance regarding migration policy, which is increasingly understood by Swedes weary of problems stemming from failed integration and rising crime in so-called “no-go zones.” The party, whose goal is “the lowest immigration in Europe,” became the second-largest force in parliament after the 2022 elections, which gave it real influence over government policy – particularly in tightening asylum and welfare rules for immigrants.
At the same time, contrary to accusations made in the past by political opponents, the Sweden Democrats present a decidedly anti-Russian stance, distancing themselves from Vladimir Putin’s policies and supporting a tough approach toward the Kremlin. The party belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament, positioning it firmly within the mainstream of the European right.