Estonian parliamentary election, 2011

  • SDE: 19
  • K: 26
  • RE: 33
  • IRL: 23

The parliamentary elections in Estonia 2011 took place on Sunday, March 6, 2011. It was the election of the 12th Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia.

Political Situation

The last parliamentary election was held on March 4, 2007 in Estonia. Since April 2007, Estonia reigned a coalition between the liberal Estonian Reform Party of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and the conservative Isamaa yes Res Publica Liit under its chairman Mart Laar. The original third coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party of Estonia, resigned in May 2009 in protest against government policies from the Cabinet Ansip II.

In principle, all parties are in Estonia as coalition capable with each other.

Last legislative session

2007-2011 parties represented in parliament

  • Estonian Centre Party ( Eesti Keskerakond )
  • Estonian Reform Party ( Eesti Reformierakond )
  • Isamaa yes Res Publica Liit ( Erakond Isamaa yes Res Publica Liit )
  • Social Democratic Party ( Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond )
  • Estonian People's Union ( Eestimaa Rahvaliit )
  • Estonian Green ( Erakond Eestimaa Rohelised )

2007-2011 not parties represented in parliament

Electoral system

The one- chamber parliament ( Riigikogu Estonian, literally: " National Assembly " ) shall be elected for a term of four years. The Parliament has 101 MPs after the Estonian Constitution.

Are entitled to vote, all Estonian nationals who are on election day at least 18 years old. You can chose any Estonian nationals, which is the last day of the deadline for candidates at least 21 years old.

The election shall be held according to proportional representation. It is the five-percent hurdle. Estonia was divided for the election in twelve constituencies. Each constituency sends depending on the population between seven and fourteen deputies in the Riigikogu.

Each voter has one vote, which he is a candidate in his constituency. Apart from party lists and individual candidates can run for office.

The voter selects his ballot not parties but people that are listed in the numbered list of candidates under the name of the party. To be elected, who will receive at least 1/ 101 of the valid votes. None of the candidates gets 1/101 of the votes cast, the party itself but overall five percent or more, so come proportionately as many members of the party in the Riigikogu, as this has won by a percentage of the votes cast seats. This pull of such party a those candidates who got the most votes.

If a deputy in the government one, he must temporarily give up his seat in parliament. In its place, the candidate of his party with the next most votes moves to an interim basis.

Organization of elections

The electoral process is the responsibility of the State Electoral Commission ( Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon ). Its chairman is the director of the Riigikogu ( Parliament Head of Administration), Heiki Sibul (* 1963).

The polls are open on election day 9 von 20 bis clock clock. In addition, any person eligible to vote from February 24 to March 2 his voice over the Internet. For this he needed a passport chip card, a card reader and a pin code. The voice can be re- issued, so that the previous vote will be revoked.

In addition, there in 2011 for the first time the possibility to choose a mobile ID card and the mobile phone over the Internet. To this end, the voters need a special SIM card with a PIN code, which is issued by the Estonian Police, and a digital certificate. The SIM card takes over the function of the identity card and the card reader.

The Estonian electoral law also provides for the vote at the relevant polling station before the actual election day ago ( eelhääletamine ): Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the polling day in every polling station daily from 12pm clock bis 22 clock a vote possible. For Estonians who are abroad, absentee voting or to vote at an Estonian foreign representation is provided.

Participating parties

Individual candidates

About 30 individual candidates competed for election; among them Siiri Sisask, Mark Soosaar, Leo Kunnas, Mart Helme and Martin helmets.

Surveys

Election result

The 2011 general election, the party system in Estonia continues to consolidate. Instead of six, only four parties are represented in the Riigikogu future. The Greens, who were recruited in 2007 for the first time, Parliament could develop over the past four years, little profile and failed at the five-percent hurdle. The rural -based People's Union, which could provide the president until 2006, to enter parliament clearly failed.

Election winner was the liberal Reform Party of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who has ruled since 2005. The Reform Party was able to increase the number of seats from 31 to 33. The voters apparently honored the radical austerity program of the government, had the Estonian economy performed reasonably unscathed by the economic crisis. Estonia to adopt the euro on 1 January 2011.

Ansips junior partner in the previous minority coalition, the conservative IRL, was also able to gain seats. She put four mandates on now 23. It is generally agreed that Ansip and the IRL party chairman, the former Prime Minister Mart Laar, the former coalition will continue.

For the opposition parties, the Social Democrats were able to record the Estonian biggest gains. The SDE, which currently represents the Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves with could, almost double the number of seats to 19. The Social Democrats were leaked in May 2009 in protest against government policies from the three coalition with the Reform Party and IRL.

Losers of the election was the Centre Party, which is now only 26 seats (minus 3 ). It remains the strongest opposition party. Apparently the party have harmed allegations in the election campaign, they entertain contacts with Russian oligarchs. A personal success was the strong man of the Centre Party, Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar, to their credit: he scored the most individual votes ( 23,012 ), ahead of Prime Minister Ansip ( 18,686 ). However Savisaar will stay mayor and waive his parliamentary seat.

Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Estonian Greens Coat of arms of Estonia Estonian parliamentary election, 2007 Party of Estonian Christian Democrats Postal voting Conservatism Agricultural policy Business oligarch Estonian parliamentary election, 1920 Estonian parliamentary election, 1923 Estonian parliamentary election, 1926 Estonian parliamentary election, 1929 Estonian parliamentary election, 1932 Estonian parliamentary election, 1940 Estonian parliamentary election, 1992 Estonian parliamentary election, 1995 Estonian parliamentary election, 1999 Estonian parliamentary election, 2003
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