Estonia - March 2023

The ruling center-right Reform Party secured first place in the country’s parliamentary elections, with 31 per cent of the vote. The elections were seen as a test for Estonia’s pro-EU direction and its stance on the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas campaigned on a pro-Ukraine platform, while far-right EKRE, which criticized accepting Ukrainian refugees and sending weapons to Ukraine, came second with 16 per cent. Apart from the national security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, socio-economic issues and the rising cost of living are expected to be the main matters the new government will be addressing. Women’s representation in the Riigikogu set a new record, with 30 elected women, as compared to 28 in the 2019 elections. Voter turnout was at 63.5 per cent, similar to the 63.7 per cent in previous elections.

Sources: The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, ERR, International IDEA