Vseviov rises to second in prime minister poll as Kõlvart leads

Centre Party leader Mihhail Kõlvart leads a poll of preferred prime minister candidates, while Social Democrat Jonatan Vseviov has moved into second place, ERR reported. The survey by Norstat and the Institute for Societal Research found that 28 percent of respondents preferred Kõlvart, 21 percent Vseviov and 19 percent Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu.

Martin Helme, leader of the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia, was preferred by 13 percent. Right-wing leader Lavly Perling and Reform Party leader Kristen Michal each received 8 percent, while Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas had 4 percent.

Over the past month, Reinsalu’s support fell by six percentage points, the largest change among the candidates. Kõlvart’s support rose by two points, while Perling and Michal each lost two points.

Among supporters of the parties represented, Vseviov was the leading choice among Social Democrats, with 81 percent; Kõlvart among Centre Party supporters, with 80 percent; Helme among Conservative People’s Party supporters, with 73 percent; Reinsalu among Isamaa supporters, with 67 percent; Perling among Right-wing supporters, with 61 percent; and Michal among Reform Party supporters, with 50 percent.

The poll also asked respondents to choose between pairs of candidates. Reinsalu was preferred to Michal by 50 percent to 24 percent, with 27 percent unsure. Kõlvart led Michal by 49 percent to 31 percent, with 20 percent unsure. Reinsalu led Kõlvart by 44 percent to 39 percent, with 17 percent unsure.

The prime minister preference question is included monthly in a weekly party preference poll. The latest results cover interviews conducted from November 2 to 11 with 1,000 voting-age Estonian citizens. The candidate preference results exclude respondents who said they did not know.