As expected, the formation of Kaja Kallas continues its momentum. The Estonian Prime Minister’s Reform Party (centre right) easily won the legislative elections on Sunday March 5, with 31.2% of the vote, ahead of the far-right EKRE party (16%).
“It’s much better than we expected”said M.me Kallas to the press. But if it improves its score compared to the previous elections, the Reform Party will have to, just as during the legislature which is ending, form a coalition with one or more other formations in Parliament, while refusing to ally with the far right. “We have ruled out any coalition with EKRE and I stand by my words as I did in 2019”underlined Mr.me Callas.
One of the leaders of EKRE, Mart Helme, accused the Reform Party on election night of having ” stolen “ electoral victory. “We didn’t do anything wrong. We did everything right and with honesty, unlike those who stole our well-deserved victory.”he said, noting that EKRE led the race when counting paper ballots but the situation was reversed when counting electronic votes.
During the election campaign, EKRE argued against further arms deliveries to Kyiv, saying that Estonia should not harm its relations with Moscow. He also campaigned for ” protection “ Estonian workers against the influx of Ukrainian refugees and other migrants.
Three more seats
At the end of Sunday’s election, four other parties will be present in the new Estonian Parliament. The Center Party (center-left) won 15.3% of the vote, Eesti 200 (liberal) 13.3%, the Social Democratic Party 9.3% and Isamaa (conservative) 8.2%, according to a full count . The turnout was 63.5%, according to the Electoral Commission, which has yet to carry out a new count overnight, then a third on Tuesday.
If the results are confirmed, the Reform Party will exceed its result of four years ago (28.9%) and will win 37 seats, three more than in the previous legislature.
Popular among entrepreneurs and young professionals, the Reform Party has promised to raise military spending to at least 3% of GDP and to lower corporate taxes. He also wants to pass a law approving civil partnerships between people of the same sex.
“Reformists can form a government with all of these parties except EKRE, because EKRE’s position has now become so weak that it can be easily ignored”Rein Toomla, of the Johan Skytte Institute for Political Studies, told Agence France-Presse.
A very important contribution to help Ukraine
Estonia, a country of 1.3 million people bordering Russia, has a unicameral parliament with 101 seats. A member of the European Union and NATO, the Baltic country spearheaded international calls last year for increased military aid to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.
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Estonian military aid to Ukraine currently amounts to more than 1% of its GDP, the largest contribution of any country relative to the size of their economy. “I think that with such a strong mandate, this will not change”Ms. Kallas said on Sunday. “The other parties – with the exception of EKRE and perhaps the Center – are on the same line. So I think we can find common ground here.”she added.
These elections took place while the Estonian economy is going through a difficult situation, with one of the highest inflation rates in the EU (+18.6% over one year in 2022).
“We must make major reforms concerning the ecological transition for example, but we must also invest in our security”said M.me Callas on Sunday. “Our aggressive neighbor has not disappeared and will not disappear. So we have to work with that”she added, alluding to Russia.
The Estonian president has fourteen days to nominate a candidate for the post of prime minister, who will also have fourteen days to present his new government to parliament for approval.