Estonian parliamentary election, 2011

Estonian parliamentary election, 2011

6 March 2011

101 seats in the Riigikogu 51 seats were needed for a majority   First party Second party   Leader Andrus Ansip Edgar Savisaar Party Reform Centre Last election 31 seats 29 seats Seats won 33 26 Seat change 2 3 Popular vote 164,255 134,124 Percentage 28.6% 23.3%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Mart Laar Sven Mikser Party Pro Patria and Res Publica Social Democratic Last election 19 seats 10 seats Seats won 23 19 Seat change 4 9 Popular vote 118,023 98,307 Percentage 20.5% 17.1%

Prime Minister before election Andrus Ansip Reform Elected Prime Minister Andrus Ansip Reform

A parliamentary election was held in Estonia on 6 March 2011, with e-voting between 24 February and 2 March 2011.

The 101 members of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) were elected using a form of proportional representation for a four-year term. The seats were allocated using a modified D'Hondt method. The country is divided into twelve multi-mandate electoral districts. There is a nationwide threshold of 5% for party lists, but if the number of votes cast for a candidate exceeds or equals the simple quota (which shall be obtained by dividing the number of valid votes cast in the electoral district by the number of mandates in the district) he or she is elected.

Pre-election polls put the Reform Party, led by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, ahead of its main rival, the opposition Centre Party. The former is right of centre, the latter is considered populist, slightly to the left on economic matters. Both parties are members of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.

The election was marked by the highest number of running independents (32) since 1992. Several independent candidates were members of the Estonian Patriotic Movement.^[1]

Seats by electoral district

The district number	Electoral District	Seats
1	Haabersti, Põhja-Tallinn and Kristiine districts in Tallinn	9
2	Kesklinn, Lasnamäe and Pirita districts in Tallinn	11
3	Mustamäe and Nõmme districts in Tallinn	8
4	Harjumaa (without Tallinn) and Raplamaa counties	14
5	Hiiumaa, Läänemaa and Saaremaa counties	6
6	Lääne-Virumaa county	5
7	Ida-Virumaa county	8
8	Järvamaa and Viljandimaa counties	8
9	Jõgevamaa and Tartumaa counties (without Tartu)	7
10	Tartu city	8
11	Võrumaa, Valgamaa and Põlvamaa counties	9
12	Pärnumaa county	8

Opinion polling

Party	PM candidate	Seats after 2007 elections	Rating
Estonian Reform Party	Andrus Ansip	31	43% (November 2010, Estonia),[2] 33% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 36% (December 2010),[3] 36% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 25% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute),[4] 39% (13 February 2011),[5] 28% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
Estonian Centre Party	Edgar Savisaar	29	23% (November 2010, Estonia),[2] 31% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 23% (December 2010),[3] 23% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 19% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute),[4] 25% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica	Mart Laar	19	15% (November 2010, Estonia),[2] 20% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 15% (December 2010),[3] 16% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 12% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute),[4] 21% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
Social Democratic Party	Sven Mikser	10	11% (November 2010, Estonia),[3] 9% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 13% (December 2010),[3] 14% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 9% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute)[4] 16% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
Estonian Greens	Aleksei Lotman	6	3% (November 2010, Estonia),[3] 4% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 5% (December 2010),[3] 4% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 2% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute)[4] 4% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
People's Union of Estonia	Andrus Blok	6	2% (November 2010, Estonia),[3] 1% (November 2010, Tallinn),[2] 4% (December 2010),[3] 2% (January 2011, TNS Emor),[3] 2% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute)[4] 2% (25 February 2011, TNS Emor)[6]
Party of Estonian Christian Democrats	Peeter Võsu	0
Estonian Independence Party	Vello Leito	0
Russian Party in Estonia	Dimitri Klenski	0
Non-party candidates		0	9% (January 2011, Turu-Uuringute)[7]

Results

Distribution of seats in the Estonian parliament 2011-2015

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Estonian Reform Party	164,255	28.6	33	+2
Estonian Centre Party	134,124	23.3	26	–3
Pro Patria and Res Publica Union	118,023	20.5	23	+4
Social Democratic Party	98,307	17.1	19	+9
Estonian Greens	21,824	3.8	0	–6
People's Union of Estonia	12,184	2.1	0	–6
Russian Party in Estonia	5,029	0.9	0	0
Party of Estonian Christian Democrats	2,934	0.5	0	0
Estonian Independence Party	2,571	0.4	0	0
Independents	15,882	2.8	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	5,131	–	–	–
Total	580,264	100	101	0
Registered voters/turnout	913,346	63.5	–	–
Source: VVK

Report on Internet voting

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe observed this election and issued a report with a number of recommendations.^[8]

References

1. Delfi: Telestuudiosse kogunes 28 üksikkandidaati
2. "Исследование Emor: реформисты опережают центристов в столице" (in Russian). DELFI. 2010-10-24.
3. Скандал снизил популярность центристов у эстонцев, но поднял среди русских (in Russian). Postimees. 2011-01-28.
4. По популярности центристы по-прежнему уступают реформистам (in Russian). Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 08.02.2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. Эстонская общественная телерадиовещательная корпорация (in Russian). Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 2011-02-13.
6. "Reformierakonna toetus langes veebruaris 28 protsendile" (in Estonian). Postimees. 2011-02-25.
7. "Valimiste teise koha eest võitlevad kolm erakonda" (in Estonian). Postimees. 01.03.2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. OSCE (2011-05-16). "OSCE/ODIHR Election Assessment Mission Report - ESTONIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 6 March 2011". Retrieved 2011-05-18.

External links

• Estonian National Electoral Committee
• Poll ratings of political parties
• NSD: European Election Database - Estonia publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1990-2011