The recent parliamentary elections in Estonia have resulted in a significant victory for the centre-right Reform Party, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. With almost all the ballots counted, Kallas’s liberal group secured 31.6% of the votes, followed by the far-right eurosceptic EKRE party at 16.1%, while the Centre Party, which is traditionally favoured by Estonia’s ethnic-Russian minority, received 14.7% of the votes. The preliminary results indicate that six parties have passed the 5% threshold of support required to enter the 101-seat parliament, or Riigikogu, including newcomer Eesti 200, a liberal centrist party. Voter turnout was 63.7%, which is similar to the previous election.
Estonia, a country of 1.3 million people on Russia’s northwestern border, has been one of Kyiv’s most vocal supporters since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It has provided significant military assistance to Ukraine, which amounts to more than one percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), making it the largest contributor relative to the size of its economy. Kallas has been one of Ukraine’s biggest European supporters and has been outspoken about the need for continued pressure on Russia.
“This result, which is not final yet, will give us a strong mandate to put together a good government,” said Kallas, addressing her party colleagues and jubilant supporters at a hotel in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. She added that any government she forms would continue to call for pressure on Russia and invest in Estonia’s security.
The Reform Party is a centre-right liberal party that appeals to business owners and young professionals. It has promised to increase military spending to at least three percent of GDP and reduce taxes on businesses. The party also wants to pass a law approving same-sex civil partnerships.
The latest results will give the Reform Party 37 seats in the legislature, and Kallas will need junior partners to form a coalition with a comfortable majority to govern. The Centre Party, which secured 26 seats in the previous election, is expected to be a potential partner for the Reform Party, along with Eesti 200 and other smaller parties.
Estonia broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991 and is a member of NATO and the European Union. The country has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022 and has been actively involved in providing military assistance to Ukraine. The election results indicate that Estonians are concerned about their security and want their government to continue supporting Ukraine and investing in their country’s defence.
In conclusion, Estonia’s recent parliamentary elections have resulted in a significant victory for the centre-right Reform Party led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The preliminary results show that six parties have passed the 5% threshold of support required to enter the parliament, including newcomer Eesti 200, a liberal centrist party. The election results indicate that Estonians are concerned about their security and want their government to continue supporting Ukraine and investing in their country’s defence. Kallas will need junior partners to form a coalition with a comfortable majority to govern, and it remains to be seen which parties will join forces with the Reform Party.