Overshadowed by the fallout from Russia’s war against Ukraine, Estonia will elect a new parliament on Sunday (from 8:00 a.m. CET). In the Baltic EU and NATO country, a good 965,000 voters are called upon to vote on the 101 seats in the Riigikogu parliament. Nine parties are running in the ninth election since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. None of them should get an absolute majority.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ liberal business reform party is ahead in polls. Kallas, who has been the first woman to head Estonia’s government since 2021, is considered one of the most resolute supporters of Ukraine in Europe. Since Russia’s attack, the 45-year-old has been one of the most vocal supporters of EU sanctions against Moscow and arms sales to Kiev. She also resolutely called for a strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank.