Estonia: Center Party Leader Mihhail Kõlvart Now Top Choice for Prime Minister in Poll
Mihhail Kõlvart, chairman of Estonia's Center Party, has overtaken Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu as the most preferred prime minister candidate in an October poll. He is backed by 20 percent of respondents, Reinsalu by 16 percent.
Mihhail Kõlvart, chairman of Estonia's Center Party, has become the most preferred candidate for prime minister in the country, according to a poll commissioned by the news portal Delfi and carried out by the market research company Turu-uuringute AS. Delfi reported the results on Wednesday. Kõlvart has moved ahead of Urmas Reinsalu, leader of the Isamaa party, who had led until now. The result shows how the popularity of Estonia's political leaders is shifting.
The numbers
Twenty percent of respondents named Kõlvart as their preferred prime minister, his highest rating in the survey. Reinsalu is at 16 percent. Last month he stood at 18 percent, matching his lowest level in three years. In May this year Kõlvart rose to 19 percent, level with Reinsalu, before dropping back to 16 percent.
The other candidates were Martin Helme, chairman of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE), with 13 percent; Lavly Perling, leader of Eesti Parempoolsed, with 10 percent; Social Democratic Party Chairman Lauri Läänemets with 7 percent; Reform Party Chairman and incumbent Prime Minister Kristen Michal with 5 percent; and Estonia 200 leader Kristina Kallas with 2 percent. Another 27 percent could not say.
What changed
Turreally, Turu-uuringute AS CEO Tõnis Stamberg told Delfi that Kõlvart's rise was driven by stronger support among ethnic Estonian voters. He is backed by 13 percent of ethnic Estonians and 50 percent of ethnic Russians, compared with 18 percent and 6 percent for Reinsalu. In August, Kõlvart had 11 percent among ethnic Estonians against 22 percent for Reinsalu.
Kõlvart gained among both rural and urban residents, while Reinsalu lost ground among urban voters but held 21 percent among rural residents. In October Kõlvart added support among respondents with the lowest and highest levels of education, while Reinsalu's biggest losses came among those with the lowest education.
The survey was conducted online and by telephone from October 1 to 3, with 899 Estonian citizens aged 18 and over responding.
