Centre Party popularity towering in Tallinn

Photo: Viktor Burkivski

TNS Emor research points to Centre Party continuing as most popular in Tallinn ahead of this fall’s local elections, supported by 46 per cent of respondents in Estonia’s capital.

In Tallinn, Centre Party is trailed by Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) with 14 per cent, Reform Party (13 per cent), and Social Democrats (SDE) with 9 per cent support.

Amongst mayor candidates, the incumbent Centre Party head Edgar Savisaar also towers as most popular, favoured by 37 per cent according to the poll. The Conservative People’s Party leader Mart Helme follows by 11 per cent; IRL’s Eerik-Niiles Kross has 10, the fresh Reform Party member Vilja Savisaar-Toomast and soc dems’ Andres Anvelt both having 7 per cent of support.

The only segment where Centre Party gives way to rivals is among Estonians. Among Estonians, Centre Party has 9 per cent popularity and only comes fourth after Reform Party, IRL and SDE. This, however, is compensated by exceedingly high popularity of 72 per cent among voters of other nationalities.

As told to ETV news Aktuaalne Kaamera by the Tallinn University political scientist Tõnis Saarts: should Centre Party succeed in mobilising its voters, they may well take over half of seats in the council of Tallinn, in October.

Eerik-Niiles Kross thinks otherwise. «As is appears, Centre Party comes short of 50 per cent. I cannot imagine a situation where Centre Party’s percentage starts to rise and the rivals fall. The trend, rather, is the opposite,» said he.

According to Mr Kross, IRL has a good starting position being 2^nd in Tallinn, after Centre Party. «Of the so-called white parties, we stand tallest in Tallinn,» said Mr Kross, expressing hopes that the party would do well, in October, being able to form a coalition in the wake of the elections, in Tallinn.

Coalition is also on the mind of the social democrat Andres Anvelt, viewing SDE’s chances as positive. «To begin with: soc dems and me, we have been saying that it is not important to win the elections, rather to form a coalition and bringing a multiple-party-rule back to Tallinn. The one-party-era has not taken us far. And this is our main goal,» said he, admitting that they will have to work hard to get maximum votes possible.

In Estonia as a whole, Centre Party would supported by 29 per cent, Reform Party by 13 per cent and both SDE and IRL by 10 per cent of respondents. As compared to June, however, Reform Party and IRL have gained a percent, SDE losing four. 24 of respondents would vote for an independent candidate, 11 per cent for a local election coalition.

In June, TNS Emor interviewed 1,074 persons eligible by age for elections.