Sweden’s Liberal Party has slipped to just 1.4% support in a new opinion poll, marking the lowest figure ever recorded for an established parliamentary party and raising fresh questions about its political survival.

The Liberals’ downward slide continues, according to a January survey by Indikator Opinion conducted for public radio broadcaster Ekot. At 1.4%, the party is not only far below Sweden’s 4% parliamentary threshold, but also at a level polling experts describe as unprecedented. “These are genuine disaster numbers,” said Indikator’s opinion chief Per Oleskog Tryggvason, noting that no other long-standing Riksdag party has ever tested this low.

One contributing factor, he argues, may be timing. With global crises dominating headlines, it has been difficult for the Liberals’ relatively new leader, Simona Mohamsson, to gain visibility or define a clear political profile. The result is a party struggling to cut through—despite its long history as Sweden’s oldest political party, founded in the early 20th century.

The Liberals are not alone below the danger line. The Christian Democrats also fall short of the threshold at 3.9%, while the Green Party drops sharply to 4.7%, a decline that pollsters say is statistically significant. The Center Party, however, manages a rebound to 5.3% after previously hovering below 4%.

At the top of the chart, Swedish politics looks more stable. The Social Democrats remain dominant at 35.4%, followed by the Sweden Democrats on 21.4% and the Moderates at 18.9%. The Left Party posts a modest increase to 7.5%.

The poll was conducted between January 11 and 25 among more than 4,300 eligible voters, with a response rate of 42%. If an election were held today, it would spell serious trouble for several smaller parties—but none more so than the Liberals, now facing an existential moment in Swedish politics.

Going into an election year, it’s not looking good for what is often called Sweden’s oldest party.

All remaining charges against former TV personality Dermot Clemenger have now been dropped after the final allegation expired under Sweden’s statute of limitations—closing a case that has ignited outrage across the political spectrum and renewed scrutiny of Swedish criminal law.

The last outstanding charge against Dermot Clemenger was formally written off this week, Örebro District Court confirmed, meaning all suspected offenses—31 counts of purchasing sex—are now time-barred. Clemenger admitted to 30 of the allegations but avoided trial by staying out of Sweden until the clock ran out. British police, asked to assist in locating him, told Swedish authorities they were unable to do so. “We apologize that we could not help,” they wrote in an email to the court.

Swedish police, meanwhile, searched for Clemenger six times at his registered Swedish address, according to a final report seen by media. Each visit turned up the same result: lights off, curtains drawn, “no tracks in the snow.” Similar efforts abroad came up empty. With the last offense expiring on Sunday, prosecutors were left with no legal path forward.

The outcome has triggered sharp reactions in Stockholm. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called Clemenger’s evasion “deeply provocative” and announced a review of Sweden’s statute of limitations rules, arguing that suspects should not be able to game the system by deliberately disappearing. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer has been brought into the discussions.

The opposition Social Democrats are going further. Their justice spokesperson, Teresa Carvalho, said Clemenger’s behavior should itself be criminalized and proposed freezing the statute of limitations while authorities attempt to formally notify suspects.

Clemenger, who has been spotted in both London and Cardiff over the past year, has dismissed the coverage as a “witch hunt.” Legally, the case is now over. Politically, it may just be getting started.