2015 Estonian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 1 March 2015. Advance voting was held between 19 and 25 February with a turnout of 33 percent.[1] The Reform Party remained the largest in the Riigikogu, winning 30 of the 101 seats. Its leader, Taavi Rõivas, remained Prime Minister.
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101 seats in the Riigikogu 51 seats are needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 64.2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Largest party by electoral district (Yellow-Reform) (Green-Centre) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
This was the first election since the resignation of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who relinquished his position after holding the office for almost nine years. Following the resignation, a new coalition comprising the Estonian Reform Party and the Estonian Social Democrats were authorized to form a new government on 24 March 2014 with 34-year-old Taavi Rõivas as the new Prime Minister. This replaced the prior coalition of the Estonian Reform Party and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union.[2]
Electoral system
The 101 members of the Riigikogu were elected by proportional representation in twelve multi-member constituencies. The seats were allocated using a modified D'Hondt method. Parties had to pass a nationwide threshold of 5%, but if the number of votes cast for an individual candidate exceeded or equalled the simple quota (obtained by dividing the number of valid votes cast in the electoral district by the number of mandates in the district), they were elected.
Seats by electoral district
# | Electoral District | Seats |
---|---|---|
1 | Haabersti, Põhja-Tallinn and Kristiine districts in Tallinn | 9 |
2 | Kesklinn, Lasnamäe and Pirita districts in Tallinn | 12 |
3 | Mustamäe and Nõmme districts in Tallinn | 8 |
4 | Harju (without Tallinn) and Rapla counties | 14 |
5 | Hiiu, Lääne and Saare counties | 6 |
6 | Lääne-Viru county | 5 |
7 | Ida-Viru county | 7 |
8 | Järva and Viljandi counties | 7 |
9 | Jõgeva and Tartu counties (without city of Tartu) | 8 |
10 | City of Tartu | 8 |
11 | Võru, Valga and Põlva counties | 9 |
12 | Pärnu county | 8 |
Opinion polls
Poll results are listed in the table below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first. The highest percentage figure in each poll is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's color. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded.
Date | Polling Firm | Ref | Kesk | IRL | SDE | Green | EKRE | EVA | Others | Lead | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Mar 2015 | Election Results | 27.7 | 24.8 | 13.7 | 15.2 | 0.9 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 0.9 | 2.9 | |
23–26 Feb 2015 | TNS Emor | 26 | 22 | 16 | 19 | - | 6 | 10 | 1 | 4 | |
Feb 2015 | Turu-uuringute AS | 22 | 27 | 16 | 18 | - | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
11–18 Feb 2015 | TNS Emor | 23 | 22 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | |
Jan 2015 | Turu-uuringute AS | 22 | 26 | 15 | 16 | - | 6 | 6 | 9 | 4 | |
Jan 2015 | TNS Emor | 25 | 22 | 15 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | |
Dec 2014 | Turu-uuringute AS | 26 | 27 | 15 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
Dec 2014 | TNS Emor | 32 | 23 | 16 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | |
Nov 2014 | TNS Emor | 29 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
Oct 2014 | TNS Emor | 27 | 27 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
Sep 2014 | TNS Emor | 27 | 26 | 18 | 23 | 3 | 2 | Did not exist | 1 | 1 | |
Aug 2014 | TNS Emor | 29 | 25 | 15 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||
Jul 2014 | TNS Emor | 31 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | ||
Jun 2014 | TNS Emor | 31 | 24 | 14 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||
May 2014 | TNS Emor | 29 | 24 | 15 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
Apr 2014 | TNS Emor | 25 | 22 | 19 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||
26 March 2014 | Taavi Rõivas' cabinet is sworn in | ||||||||||
Mar 2014 | TNS Emor | 24 | 27 | 16 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||
Feb 2014 | TNS Emor | 21 | 27 | 19 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||
Jan 2014 | TNS Emor | 24 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
Dec 2013 | TNS Emor | 19 | 32 | 20 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | ||
Nov 2013 | TNS Emor | 18 | 29 | 22 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | ||
Oct 2013 | TNS Emor | 22 | 29 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | ||
Sep 2013 | TNS Emor | 21 | 29 | 18 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||
Aug 2013 | TNS Emor | 20 | 26 | 14 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | ||
Jul 2013 | TNS Emor | 24 | 28 | 14 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
Jun 2013 | TNS Emor | 24 | 28 | 14 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
May 2013 | TNS Emor | 24 | 26 | 15 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
Apr 2013 | TNS Emor | 25 | 24 | 13 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
Mar 2013 | TNS Emor | 25 | 26 | 15 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||
Feb 2013 | TNS Emor | 23 | 26 | 17 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
Jan 2013 | TNS Emor | 20 | 28 | 16 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
Dec 2012 | TNS Emor | 22 | 24 | 18 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
Nov 2012 | TNS Emor | 26 | 23 | 17 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | ||
Oct 2012 | TNS Emor | 32 | 25 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | ||
Sep 2012 | TNS Emor | 33 | 24 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 9 | ||
Aug 2012 | TNS Emor | 39 | 20 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 19 | ||
Jul 2012 | TNS Emor | 34 | 22 | 15 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
Jun 2012 | TNS Emor | 31 | 23 | 14 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 7 | ||
May 2012 | TNS Emor | 30 | 19 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
Apr 2012 | TNS Emor | 27 | 25 | 13 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | ||
Mar 2012 | TNS Emor | 29 | 23 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||
Feb 2012 | TNS Emor | 28 | 26 | 14 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | ||
Jan 2012 | TNS Emor | 30 | 27 | 13 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | ||
Dec 2011 | TNS Emor | 33 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | ||
Nov 2011 | TNS Emor | 31 | 23 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||
Oct 2011 | TNS Emor | 32 | 20 | 16 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 | ||
Sep 2011 | TNS Emor | 31 | 24 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||
Aug 2011 | TNS Emor | 29 | 21 | 18 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | ||
Jul 2011 | TNS Emor | 31 | 21 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||
Jun 2011 | TNS Emor | 33 | 22 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||
May 2011 | TNS Emor | 33 | 20 | 17 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | ||
Apr 2011 | TNS Emor | 31 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 | ||
6 Mar 2011 | Election Results | 28.6 | 23.3 | 20.5 | 17.1 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 5.3 |
Results
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
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Estonian Reform Party | 158,970 | 27.7 | 30 | –3 | |
Estonian Centre Party | 142,458 | 24.8 | 27 | +1 | |
Social Democratic Party | 87,189 | 15.2 | 15 | –4 | |
Pro Patria and Res Publica Union | 78,699 | 13.7 | 14 | –9 | |
Free Party | 49,882 | 8.7 | 8 | New | |
Conservative People's Party | 46,772 | 8.1 | 7 | +7 | |
Estonian Greens | 5,193 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | |
Party of People's Unity | 2,289 | 0.4 | 0 | New | |
Estonian Independence Party | 1,047 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | |
Estonian United Left Party | 764 | 0.1 | 0 | New | |
Independents | 887 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 3,760 | – | – | – | |
Total | 577,910 | 100 | 101 | 0 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 899,793 | 64.2 | – | – | |
Source: VVK |
Aftermath
The Reform Party started coalition talks with the Social Democrats, Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) and the Free Party.[3] After nearly three weeks of negotiations, the Free Party left the coalition talks due to disagreements with the Reform Party and the IRL.[4] The three remaining parties signed the coalition treaty on 8 April, and the cabinet took office on 9 April.[5]
References
- Record number of e-votes given in ongoing elections ERR, 26 February 2015
- Estonian politics enters uncertain new era Archived 2014-08-19 at the Wayback Machine Dateline Baltics, 14 April 2014
- Coalition consultations begin with four parties in attendance ERR, 6 March 2015
- Coalition talks to continue between three parties, Free Party to go into opposition ERR, 23 March 2015
- "Otseülekanne: kolme erakonna koalitsioonileping saab allkirjad". Postimees. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
External links
- Estonian National Electoral Committee (in English)
- Poll ratings of political parties Eesti Erakondade Ajalugu (in Estonian)