Swedish Liberals Face Historic Crisis Amid Polling Plunge and Strategic Debates

The Swedish Liberal Party (Liberalerna) is grappling with a severe political crisis, marked by record low polling numbers threatening its parliamentary presence. Recent surveys reveal support ranging between 1.4% and 2%, well below the critical 4% threshold required for Riksdag representation. This unprecedented decline has sparked urgent internal discussions about the party's future direction and survival strategies.

Former party leader Bengt Westerberg characterized the situation as a "tragedy" and expressed doubts about the party’s ability to remain in parliament. He attributed the crisis to strategic errors, especially the party’s decision to cooperate with the Sweden Democrats (SD) starting in 2022, including backing the Tidö Agreement. Following this shift, voter trust sharply eroded, culminating in significant departures such as Gulan Avci opting not to run for re-election.

In response, the party's leadership convened a board meeting focused on election strategy and organizational matters rather than reconsidering their government collaboration. Party Secretary Fredrik Brange described the circumstances as serious, yet emphasized that the party intends to maintain its alliance with the Moderates and Christian Democrats, explicitly rejecting ministerial cooperation with SD, who have demanded cabinet positions in exchange for their support.

Lotta Edholm, second deputy chairperson and Minister for Upper Secondary School, Higher Education and Research, affirmed substantial support within the party for leader Simona Mohamsson, who assumed leadership in June 2025. Edholm underscored the critical need to improve policy communication and pledged to bolster the Liberals’ focus on education, gender equality, and European issues as part of efforts to regain voter confidence and secure their parliamentary seat.

Despite the dire polling, party leaders recalled their resilience during prior hardships over their 40-year history, signaling determination to weather the current storm. The Liberals' board is expected to continue deliberations on tactical responses to arrest the decline and better connect with Sweden’s electorate amid a highly volatile political environment.