Social Democrats plunge to 25.8% just 11 days before Swedish election

Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats have suffered a major polling drop, winning just 25.8 percent support in a new Novus survey with only 11 days left until the election. The result has triggered alarm within the party, with secretary Tobias Baudin calling it “a warning bell.” “Now the election is on a knife’s edge,” Baudin said in response to the numbers. The poll also shows the Liberal Party struggling at 3.3 percent—just below the 4 percent threshold needed to stay in parliament. That has revived a hard line from Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson, who repeated his demand that the Liberals must clear 3.5 percent or be dropped from any cooperation. Åkesson said he stands by that condition. The tight race and the Liberals’ fragile position could now reshape coalition talks after the vote.