The question of Sweden's defense sails for the first time, since the polls began, among the ten most important political issues for Swedes.

From being in twelfth place in January, the issue is now the ninth most important among voters.

SVT's domestic policy commentator Mats Knutson believes that this is a direct consequence of the war in Ukraine and that Swedes perceive the security policy situation as much worse.

- It is about both the Russian war of aggression, and the rhetoric from Putin when it comes to threatening the outside world with nuclear weapons, for example, he says.

The line diagram shows how the importance of the issues of energy policy and defense has developed since June 2019. Photo: Novus / SVT News

Fear of increased energy prices

Several times a year, Novus examines which political issues are most important to the Swedish people.

The most recent survey was conducted between 24 February and 2 March and the results are based on the responses from 1003 randomly selected people between the ages of 18 and 79.

In the latest survey, the issue of energy policy has also moved up a few places, from seventh to fifth place.

Here, too, the war in Ukraine is believed to be an important cause.

- Already in the autumn, prices of gas and electricity and also of petrol and diesel rose.

Since then, the war has accelerated this further.

Experts believe that it can still be 25-30 percent more expensive if the war continues, says Mats Knutson.

May affect the election this autumn

Knutson adds that Sweden has traditionally had a high level of taxation on energy, which contributes to these becoming political issues now that prices have skyrocketed so sharply.

- Now one should not draw too great conclusions from this survey given that the situation right now is so exceptional, but here we now see that, for example, the energy issue has passed the climate issue for voters.

If the war continues, both the issue of energy policy and the defense can have an impact on the election campaign this autumn.

The ten most important political issues according to the latest Novus survey.

In the survey, the participants were able to mark several issues as important.

Thus, for example, the percentages should be read as follows: 60 percent of the Swedish people believe that healthcare is one of the most important political issues.

Photo: Novus / SVT