In response to questions on who would best represent the country abroad and steer the country through a serious crisis, around 70 percent of respondents to the Synovate poll, published in the Dagens Nyheter daily, opted for Reinfeldt over left-wing opposition candidates.

Sahlin, who heads up the Social Democrats, received a 16-percent vote of confidence when it came to representing Sweden abroad and 19-percent support for leading the country through a profound crisis, while Greens co-leader Maria Wetterstrand received 15-percent backing in both cases.

Asked who would best lead the government work after the next general elections on September 19th, 55 percent of respondents picked Reinfeldt over Sahlin, who garnered 26 percent support, while 64 percent picked him over Wetterstrand, who received 19 percent backing.

The poll results were surprising following recent surveys showing that the left-wing opposition parties would likely come out victorious over Reinfeldt’s right-leaning governing coalition.

A Synovate poll last month hinted that the three-party opposition enjoyed nearly 50-percent voter support, compared to 43 percent for the four-party government which includes Reinfeldt’s Moderate Party.

Several polls by other polling institutes have since then shown a narrowing gap between the blocks however.

Thursday’s Synovate poll of 1,006 people over 16 years of age was conducted from March 24-30.