(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Support for the governing Estonian Reform Party (ER) has increased recently while the main opposition party has lost ground, according to a poll by TNS Emor. 34 per cent of respondents would back the ER in the next legislative election, up four points since March.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Support for the governing Estonian Reform Party (ER) has increased recently while the main opposition party has lost ground, according to a poll by TNS Emor. 34 per cent of respondents would back the ER in the next legislative election, up four points since March.
The Estonian Centre Party (KESK) is second with 22 per cent—down five points in a month—followed by the Union of Fatherland and Res Publica (IRPL) with 14 per cent, the Social Democratic Party (SDE) with 11 per cent, the Estonian Greens (EER) with 10 per cent, and the Estonian People’s Union (ERL) with six per cent.
In March 2007, a legislative election took place in Estonia. Final results placed the ER in first place with 27.8 per cent of the vote, followed by the KESK with 26.1 per cent, and the IRPL with 17.9 per cent. In early April, the ER, the IRPL and the SDE agreed to form a government. ER leader Andrus Ansip retained his post as prime minister.
In January 2007, Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves approved a law passed by the Parliament that mandates the demolition of Soviet war memorials. In April 2007, a World War II monument depicting an Estonian soldier in Soviet uniform was removed from Tonismagi Hill in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Estonia’s Russian minority—which makes up about 25 per cent of the country’s population—felt offended by the decision. The move was followed by two days of riots.
On Apr. 22 Marina Kaljurand, Estonia’s ambassador to Russia, commented on the state of bilateral affairs, saying, "We still lack trust and respect in bilateral relations, and that is not very easy to improve."
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
|
Apr. 2008 |
Mar. 2008 |
|
|
Estonian Reform Party (ER) |
34% |
30% |
|
Estonian Centre Party (KESK) |
22% |
27% |
|
Union of Fatherland and Res Publica (IRPL) |
14% |
16% |
|
Social Democratic Party (SDE) |
11% |
12% |
|
Estonian Greens (EER) |
10% |
8% |
|
Estonian People’s Union (ERL) |
6% |
4% |
Source: TNS Emor
Methodology: Interviews with 751 Estonian adults, conducted from Apr. 2 to Apr. 23, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
