Elections in Estonia on March 6. Estonia is most famous for its internet voting.
Unemployment is 10%ish, but Estonia has like the best growth rate of the EU-27 and a small deficit. The incumbent Reform-Pro Patria and Res Publica Union government led by Andrus Ansip is likely to be reelected. For reference, the parties be:
Reform: incumbent party, with 27.8% and 31 seats in 2007. Classical liberal, it likes the flat tax and wants to further lower the flat tax rate soon. Though it has raised the VAT in 2009 when Estonia was in recession.
Centre: opposition with 26.1% and 29 seats in 2007. Led by mayor of Tallinn and former PM Edgar Savisaar. While a member of the ELDR like Reform, it is more left-wing and supports a progressive income tax and opposed the circumstances in which the Euro was adopted this year. Savisaar has the reputation of being a corrupt political boss in an administration rife with cronyism and nepotism. What's more, Centre has close ties to Putin's United Russia and a new scandal came out last year according to which Savisaar had asked the Russians to finance his party (which they did). Centre has strong support from the Russian minority (those who can vote at least, which isn't a lot of people). Because of its controversial links to Russia (which isn't a very popular country in Estonia) and Savisaar being a crook, nobody wants to cooperate with a party led by Savisaar though if he's dumped someday then Centre will become more acceptable.
Pro-Patria Union-Res Publica (IRL): main right-wing party with 17.9% and 19 seats. Mixes traditional neoliberalism (balanced budget, grow our way out of the recession, low taxes) with populism like retirement pension for mothers and widows.
Social Democrats: former coalition member with 10.6% and 10 seats. Rather right-wing social democrats, their leader is a former Centre member. Wants to increase family allowance, but would also like to govern with Reform.
People's Union of Estonia (ERL): 7.1% and 6 seats. Agrarian party, will die out this year and that's probably why they're the only ones who still tolerate Centre.
Greenies: 7.1% and 6 seats. They seem to be the only decent party, but sadly they're below the 5% threshold now
One poll says:
REF 28%
KESK 25%
IRL 21%
SDE 16%
Green 4%
ERL 2%
Another says:
REF 21%
IRL 14%
SDE 14%
KESK 13%
ERL 4%
Greens 1%
Reform has taken a big hit just now, with IRL and SDE benefiting most. The Centre is doing sh**tty, and it would be nice to see them place third or fourth.
