Estonian parties prepare lists for Riigikogu elections — ERR News
In Estonia, leading political parties are drawing up candidate lists and preparing election programs for the parliamentary — Riigikogu — elections scheduled for March 7, 2027. Some political forces have already begun their campaigns, while others plan to approve their lists and programs only in January, ERR News reports.
Approval of lists
EKRE parliamentary group adviser Aarne Mäe said that the party had accelerated its preparations due to the possibility of early elections. EKRE plans to hold internal elections in November to determine the order of candidates in constituencies. The party council is expected to approve the overall list in early January.
Social Democratic Party Secretary General Piret Hartman said that work on the lists began in the spring. Regional branches are to make final decisions on candidates and their order at the end of the year, while the overall list is planned to be approved at the party congress on January 16.
The Reform Party said it also plans to approve its candidate lists and election program at its January congress. Secretary General Kristo Enn Vaga said that leading candidates would be announced in November, while the campaign is scheduled to begin on October 17 during a meeting of the party council in Tartu.
Programs and campaigns
The Social Democrats are already running a campaign to reduce value-added tax on food products. According to Hartman, the party plans to hold larger-scale events in October and November and approve its program at the January congress.
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Eesti 200 Executive Director Anneli Kannus said that the party views preparations for the elections as part of its day-to-day political work. Eesti 200 is to formulate more detailed election plans in the coming months.
The Centre Party is collecting proposals from regional branches and representatives of various interest groups. Its Secretary General Anneli Ott said that the timetable for approving the lists, program and election slogan has not yet been determined.
Isamaa Secretary General Andres Metsoja said that the party has been working on its program for at least six months and plans to summarize proposals from working groups by the end of September. He also said that the party intends to calculate the cost of its key promises. Isamaa plans to launch its main campaign after the New Year, but is ready to present its program earlier in the event of early elections.
Parempoolsed, which has one Riigikogu member — former Eesti 200 member Kalev Stoicescu — began its preliminary campaign at the end of summer. Party deputy chair Kristjan Vanaselja said that the full program, candidate lists and a common slogan are planned to be presented in December or January.
