Coalition party Eesti 200 MPs say it should skip Estonia's 2027 elections
Two Riigikogu members from Estonia's ruling-coalition party Eesti 200, Ando Kiviberg and Toomas Uibo, say it should sit out the March 2027 parliamentary elections and focus on 2031. The party council is expected to make the final decision on Sunday.
Two members of Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, from the ruling-coalition party Eesti 200, Ando Kiviberg and Toomas Uibo, say the struggling party should not contest next March's elections. They argue it should rebuild its strength and prepare for the 2031 vote instead. The MPs told Estonian public broadcaster ERR about their views.
Kiviberg said he has not yet decided whether he will seek reelection. If the party does choose to run, he said he would have to act as a team player. Still, he sees little sense in spending money on a campaign now. "The party should lick its wounds, do a little soul-searching and commit to preparing properly for 2031," he said. He has already discussed the matter with other party members and expects a final decision at Sunday's party council meeting.
Party whip Toomas Uibo, the MP responsible for faction discipline, said voters have already made up their minds about Eesti 200. The party's rating hit a historic low of 1.3 percent in Norstat polls earlier this month. "I don't know if miracles like this happen, but right now I don't see any point in wasting taxpayer money on running in the elections," he said.
Possible merger with the Greens
Eesti 200 is discussing a possible merger with the Estonian Greens, a party without seats in parliament. Kiviberg said this may not be the right move, adding that several members he has spoken with share his view. Uibo said he was unsure the two parties have enough in common, noting that the question is whether both are willing to set enough aside to compromise.
Kiviberg ruled out running on another party's ticket and said he has received no such offers. He remains committed to Eesti 200 because he believes its ideas are necessary and sound and will ultimately benefit the country. The question, he said, is how effectively the party has put them into practice.
Fellow MP Peeter Tali told ERR he currently intends to run. "A politician has to run," he said. "If they're no longer a politician, then they don't have to."
