Unfavorable background for Reform
The Reform Party has ruled Estonia and been able to shape its policy for 17 years. “No one else has had that much power for so long,” Saarts says. “Promising to do things in an entirely new way just doesn’t sound realistic. The question people are asking is where were your good ideas when you were in power.” The Reform Party’s problem is that a long-time ruling party is not taken seriously in the opposition, the general situation is not favorable for demonstrating the party’s strengths, while it has not found new ones. “Several factors that do not depend on Reform are working against it. Even very capable leaders would be hard-pressed to deliver the party,” Saarts said in summary.
The ruling Center Party has the support of 25.9 percent of people questioned in December, while support for the Reform Party is at 23 percent, down six points since November. Center has gained around 1 point since last month.
EKRE finds itself in third place in December on 20.3 percent. In fourth place, the Social Democrat Party (SDE) has 9.2 percent, while its rating was 10.7 in November. Newcomers Estonia 200 are in fifth place on 8.2 percent (8.5 in November). Support for Pro Patria is 7.8 percent in December, up from just 4.6 points in November. The Free Party remains well below the 5-percent election threshold with a rating of 2 percent in December.
Summary support for the coalition is 42.9 percent in December. 22.7 percent of people questioned did not have a political preference and the “cannot say” answers are not reflected in the results.
Pollster Kantar Emor used online interviews to question 874 people in December 5-11.