Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The White House: South Africa used its G20 presidency to undermine the group's founding principles.
US White House: South Africa refuses to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: Several airlines are canceling flights to and from Venezuela until further notice
Al-Rashq: 'Israel' is fabricating pretexts to evade the agreement and return to a war of extermination, and it is the one that violates the agreement daily and systematically
Al-Rashq: We demand that mediators and the US administration pressure 'Israel' to reveal the identity of the gunman it claims Hamas sent
Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rashq: Reports published by Israeli sources regarding Hamas informing Witkoff that the agreement has ended are false
Al-Dali: Various Palestinian factions will participate in these important national meetings
Al-Dali: The visit carries important implications, and this is proof that Hamas attaches particular importance to this visit, given the sensitivity of the current stage
Al-Dali: The goal is to coordinate positions with Arab countries and strengthen the Palestinian national position in the face of Israeli plans
Al-Dali: A Hamas leadership delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, will arrive in Cairo within the next few hours

Estonian PM's center-right party beats far right in national election

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Mar 2023 08:21
3 Min Read

Estonian PM's pro-Kiev party won 31.6% of the vote, reiterating consistent military aid to Ukraine.

  • x
  • Estonia
    Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas speaking as she reacts to election results in Tallinn, Estonia, March 6, 2023 (Reuters)

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas' center-right Reform Party won Estonia's general election by a wide margin on Sunday, according to near-complete results, beating out a far-right rival that had campaigned against further arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Reform won 31.6% of the vote, with right-wing runners-up EKRE taking 16%. In order to stay in power, Reform will again have to form a coalition with one or more of the parties in the Baltic state's 101-seat parliament. 

The Centre Party secured 14.7% of Sunday's ballot, Estonia 200 got 13.5%, the Social Democrats received 9.4%, and the Isamaa (Fatherland) party 8.3%. 

"This is much better than we expected," Kallas said of the result. "We have ruled out a coalition with EKRE and I stand by my words."

EKRE leader Martin Helme suggested on election night that Reform "stole" the election. 

"We didn't do anything wrong. We did everything right and with honesty, unlike those who stole our well-deserved victory," Helme said.

Reform is a center-right liberal party that appeals to business owners and young professionals. It has promised to raise military spending to at least 3% of GDP and ease taxes on business.

EKRE, meanwhile, had campaigned against additional military aid to Kiev, and called for a halt in Ukrainian refugee arrivals and for lower immigration rates to protect local workers.

The electoral commission must still verify the results, but if confirmed, Reform will win 37 seats -- three more than they did four years ago.

Read more: Russia expels Estonia envoy after Tallinn downgraded diplomatic ties

Escalating tensions

Estonia, a country of 1.3 million people bordering Russia, is a member of the EU and NATO and has led international calls over the past year for more military aid to help Ukraine.

Its military assistance to Ukraine amounts to more than 1% of GDP -- the biggest contribution of any country relative to the size of its economy.

Speaking of aid to Ukraine, Kallas said on Sunday, "I think with such a strong mandate this will not change."

"Other parties -- except EKRE and maybe Centre -- have chosen the same line. So I think we can find common ground here," she added.  

According to EKRE's Helme, Estonia should not be "further escalating tensions" with Russia. 

Estonia has also been grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, enduring one of the EU's highest inflation rates -- 18.6% in January over 12 months earlier.

According to political analysts, a coalition between Reform, Estonia 200, and the Social Democrats is possible, as is one between Reform, Centre, and Isamaa.

Overall voter turnout was 63.5%, according to the electoral commission.

Read more: Estonian PM asserts that defending Kiev means defending Talinn

  • Estonia
  • Kaja Kallas
  • Baltic states

Most Read

Inside the Epstein-Rothschild web behind 'Israel’s' spy tech empire

Inside the Epstein-Rothschild web behind 'Israel’s' spy tech empire

  • Politics
  • 19 Nov 2025
Hamas fighters stand in formation as they prepare for the ceremony of Israeli captive hand over to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

US plot for Gaza in shambles amid continued popular support for Hamas

  • Politics
  • 17 Nov 2025
Ukrainian political analyst Mikhail Chaplyha has written that Jolie was ‘called’ to Kherson in order to divert attention from Pokrovsk. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

Strategic cities fall to Russian forces in Donbass; Ukraine denies what is happening

  • Opinion
  • 16 Nov 2025
Democracy at the civilizational crossroads: Critical analysis of bourgeois Democracy, its alternatives

Democracy at the civilizational crossroads: Critical analysis of bourgeois Democracy, its alternatives

  • Analysis
  • 19 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Nahdlatul Ulama chief faces removal over hosting pro-'Israel' speaker
Asia

Nahdlatul Ulama chief faces removal over hosting pro-'Israel' speaker

A boy tries to stand near missiles displayed in the National Aerospace Park of the Revolutionary Guard, just outside Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Key Israeli sites destroyed, nuclear docs moved to Tehran: Minister

Guy Pearce
Asia Pacific

Aussie actor 'disgusted' by Israeli 'disdain' for Palestinian life

Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, the newly appointed commander of the Iranian ground forces, in an undated photo (MNA)
Politics

Ali Jahanshahi appointed as new commander of Iran Army Ground Force

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS