Prime Minister Kallas’ Liberal Party has a head start in Estonia’s elections

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After evaluating electronic votes and paper ballots in almost all constituencies, the economic liberal strength came to 31.8 percent. Behind them are two opposition forces, according to data from the Election Commission in Tallinn on Sunday night: the right-wing populist Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) with 15.8 percent, ahead of the left-wing Center Party with 14.5 percent.

The biggest winner is the liberal party Estonia 200, which, according to the count results so far, enters parliament in Tallinn for the first time with 13.6 percent. Kallas’s two smaller coalition partners follow in the remaining places: the social democrats (9.4 percent) and the conservative party Isamaa (8.3 percent). With the evaluation of the remaining votes, the balance of power should shift slightly.

The election campaign was dominated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its implications for national security and socio-political issues. A special feature of the elections was the possibility to vote via internet, making Estonia the first country in Europe to introduce the elections. More than a third of all eligible voters took part in so-called ‘e-voting’. Overall, more than half of all votes cast were cast digitally – both a new record.

More than 966,000 eligible voters were called to determine the 101 seats in the Tallinn parliament. Nine parties and ten independent candidates contested the ninth election since Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Turnout, according to preliminary information, was 63.7 percent.

(SDA)

Source: Blick