Estonians began voting on Sunday to elect their new parliament in a referendum that could strengthen far-right nationalists. A party that campaigned against new arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ centre-right Reform Party is expected to win the election, according to most polls released this week, but it may need to form a coalition to stay in power.
According to these polls, he will get between 24% and 30% of the vote, while the far-right party EKRE has between 14% and 25% of the vote. In 2019, EKRE received 17.8% of the votes.
“Those who don’t vote for EKRE will not be immune from (party) reform,” EKRE president Martin Helm wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
“The more chaotic and fractured the outcome, the more chaotic the government and the weaker the ruling coalition,” Estonian former prime minister and EU commissioner Siem Kallas, a member of the Reform Party, said on Facebook.
According to the polls, the Center Party will get between 16% and 19%, Estonia 200 (liberal) between 9% and 15%, the Social Democrats between 8% and 11.5% and Isamaa (centre-right) between 7% and 9%. %
“The Importance of Freedom”
Estonia, a country of 1.3 million people bordering Russia, has a unicameral parliament with 101 seats in Sunday’s vote.
It is clear that what is happening in Ukraine is also very important for Estonia, engineer Juhan Resar, 35, told AFP outside a polling station in Tallinn on Sunday, “Maybe people (. . .) forget the importance of freedom, maybe it refreshes their understanding of this situation.” “
According to Pjotr Mahhonin, a 62-year-old pensioner, only EKRE “represents the Estonian people”. He criticizes the Prime Minister for being “too interested in another country” (Ukraine) and the Russian-speaking minority in the Center Party.
Like many Estonians, he fears war. “We have a big neighbor, Russia, which is very dangerous. If war starts here, we are the leading country,” he said.
Kiev is leading the way for help
The Baltic nation, a member of the European Union and NATO, led international calls for increased military aid to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion last year.
Estonian military aid to Ukraine currently exceeds 1% of its GDP, the largest contribution of any country relative to the size of their economy.
For an “open and intelligent” country
“We support an open, friendly, Western-style, European, intelligent country,” Kalas told AFP of his party’s political program in an interview last week.
“My biggest rival thinks that we should not help Ukraine, we should not support Ukraine, we should only pursue our own interests,” he added.
EKRE wants to save Moscow
According to EKRE President Martin Helm, Estonia “must not further aggravate tensions” with Moscow. EKRE campaigned against further military aid to Kiev and called for no more Ukrainian refugees to be accepted and for immigration to be reduced to protect Estonian workers.
The elections are taking place against the backdrop of a difficult economic situation in Estonia, which has one of the highest inflation rates in the EU, 18.6% year-on-year recorded in January.
Ignoring Russian speakers?
The Center Party, traditionally popular with Estonia’s large Russian-speaking minority, supported the government’s policy on Ukraine and Russia.
This has alienated some Russian-speaking voters, leading to a strong turnout among this minority, which represents a quarter of Estonia’s population.
Military Expenditure 3% of GDP
The Reform Party is a center-right liberal group that is generally popular among entrepreneurs and young workers.
He promises to increase military spending to at least 3% of GDP, cut corporate taxation and wants to pass a law recognizing same-sex civil partnerships.
The Center Party, center-left, promises to invest more in infrastructure and affordable housing.
According to analysts, a coalition between the Reform Party, Estonia 200 and the Social Democrats is possible, between Reform, the Center and Isamaa. EKRE’s chances of entering the government are considered moderate.
Overnight results
Polling stations close at 8pm (7pm Swiss time). The results of the polls are expected overnight from Sunday to Monday.
This article was published automatically. Sources: ats / blg / afp
“Avid gamer. Social media geek. Proud troublemaker. Thinker. Travel fan. Problem solver.”