Updated 18.37 | Published 18.32
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has abdicated.
In Sweden, the question has been discussed as to whether the king should follow the same path.
Demoskop’s survey now shows that support for King Carl XVI Gustaf is stronger than in a long time.
Carl XVI Gustaf has broken the record for number of years on the throne. Last year he celebrated 50 years as king and the Swedish people then gave him top marks.
The new survey from Demoskop, which was conducted in the days after Denmark’s Queen Margrethe announced that she is abdicating.
46 percent, i.e. barely one in two Swedes, think that the king should remain as head of state. This is an increase of six percentage points compared to the previous measurement in September.
It was made in connection with King Carl XVI’s 50th anniversary. And the new figure is the highest measured since 2017.
– What stands out in this survey is that an increasing proportion of Swedes want to keep the king as head of state, says Karin Nelsson at Demoskop.
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King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in Malmö during the royal couple’s county visit to Skåne on the occasion of the celebration of the king’s 50 years on the throne.
1 / 2Photo: Krister Hansson
“Got a better picture of the king”
One reason for the increased support may be due to the attention that has been around the royal house during the last year.
– We can see in the open answers that it is very much about continuity and you think you have got a better picture of what the royal house and what the king has contributed to and what the king has done for Sweden, says Karin Nelsson CEO of Demoskop.
– There have been very positive reviews.
Queen Silvia recently turned 80, which has also contributed to the attention around the royal house.
– In connection with that, there has been a lot of retrospective reporting during the Christmas holiday and thus a lot of focus on the royal house, says Karin Nelsson.
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King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Nina Balabina, Emilia Gardemar, Hans Dyhlén and students from the Little Academy when the Little Academy gives Queen Silvia a gift at Stockholm Palace on the occasion of the Queen’s upcoming 80th birthday.
1 / 2Photo: Jessica Gow / TT
Above all, more men than women support the king.
In the survey, the respondents were also asked whether the king should abdicate in favor of Crown Princess Victoria. The proportion there was 37 percent and therefore unchanged. The percentage of women who thought the king should abdicate is higher than the percentage of men. Of the women, 40 percent think that King Carl XVI Gustaf should abdicate, while of the men, 34 percent.
17 percent answered that they were doubtful or did not know.
Majority have confidence
52 percent answered that they had confidence in the royal family. 29 percent have very high confidence.
In the same survey in September, 54 percent answered that they had confidence in the royal house.
Support for the king is higher among Tidö parties’ voters.
Demoskop’s survey from September shows that the Swedes gave the king top marks. A rating of one means very bad and the highest, a five, means very good. A majority (58 percent) gave the king a rating of 4 or 5 then.
The latest survey was done two days ago after Denmark’s Queen Margrethe had abdicated.
– It is difficult to say how Queen Margrethe’s announcement has affected the Swedes’ attitude, we will see in the long run, says Karin Nelsson.
FACTS About the survey
The survey was carried out by Demoskop on behalf of Aftonbladet within the framework of the Inizio panel, which reflects the Swedish people. The target group is the general public aged 16 and over. The survey includes 1,005 interviews during the period 2-3 January 2024 and is conducted as a web survey.
The selection is pre-stratified and weighted by age, gender, region and party in the previous election.
Read moreJoin our opinion panel
Do you want to take part and answer Demoskop’s surveys where we find out what the Swedish people think about, for example, social issues and politics? Results are presented, among other things, in Aftonbladet. Answering is voluntary, you are anonymous and can opt out whenever you want. Click on the link to sign up.