Kõlvart overtakes Reinsalu in prime minister poll

Centre Party leader Mihhail Kõlvart has overtaken Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu as voters’ preferred prime minister, according to a poll commissioned by Delfi and reported by ERR.

Kõlvart was named by 20% of respondents, while 16% chose Reinsalu. Reinsalu’s support fell from 18% the previous month, when he matched his lowest rating in three years. Kõlvart’s rating is his highest in the poll to date, Delfi said.

Tõnis Stamberg, managing director of Turu-uuringute AS, told Delfi that Kõlvart’s rise was driven by increased support among Estonian voters. He is preferred by 13% of Estonian respondents and 50% of Russian respondents, compared with 18% and 6% respectively for Reinsalu. In August, Kõlvart’s support among Estonians was 11%, while Reinsalu’s was 22%.

Kõlvart gained support among both rural and urban voters. Reinsalu lost support among urban respondents, while his backing among rural voters held at 21% for a second month. Kõlvart’s support also rose among respondents with the lowest and highest levels of education, while Reinsalu lost the most support among those with the least education.

In the October poll, 13% of respondents preferred EKRE leader Martin Helme, 10% chose Parempoolsed leader Lavly Perling, 7% Social Democratic Party leader Lauri Läänemets, 5% Reform Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and 2% Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas. A further 27% were undecided.

Turu-uuringute AS conducted the survey online and by phone from October 1 to 3. It received responses from 899 Estonian citizens aged 18 and over.