Estonian parties still compiling candidate lists for March Riigikogu elections

Estonian parties are still recruiting candidates for the Riigikogu, the country's parliament, in elections to be held on 7 March 2027. Some list places remain unfilled, and final candidate lists are due by mid-January. Parties are therefore deciding who should run in which district in order to get the best result.

Why the choice of district matters

Estonia uses the d'Hondt proportional representation system. Parties therefore tend to put popular politicians who attract votes high on their lists: if such a candidate wins more votes than needed for a seat, the surplus can go to candidates lower down who would not have won a seat on their own.

Party plans

The governing Reform Party will announce its lead candidates only late this month. The opposition Center Party has not yet decided which district its chairman, former Tallinn mayor Mihhail Kõlvart, will head. Secretary General Anneli Ott said the chairman would win votes in any constituency. MEPs Jana Toom and Jaak Madison will head lists.

The Social Democrats (SDE) are further along: leader Lauri Läänemets will run in Järva and Viljandi, while new member Jonatan Vseviov, a former foreign ministry secretary general, will run in Harju and Rapla. The Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) has settled its lead candidates in half of the districts, with chairman Martin Helme running in Tallinn's Mustamäe and Nõmme. Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu will run in Harju and Rapla.

Parempoolsed, which is seeking its first Riigikogu seats, has chairwoman Lavly Perling ready to run in Harju and Rapla. Eesti 200 is still compiling its list.

Departing candidates

Several parties have lost prominent figures who will not run this time. They include SDE MP Raimond Kaljulaid and MEP Marina Kaljurand, Reform's Liina Kersna and Hanno Pevkur, and Parempoolsed expert Rainer Saks.