Journalists see no prospect of snap elections in Estonia

Estonia’s Reform Party and Eesti 200 minority government is likely to remain in office until next year’s parliamentary elections, ERR reported, citing political journalists on the ETV programme Hapud kurgid 2026.

Delfi journalist Vilja Kiisler said there would probably be no snap elections. The opposition could make the minority government’s work more difficult, she said, but does not want to assume government responsibility before the regular elections.

“We can make your existence so unpleasant, we can slowly fry you in a pan so that the smell of scorched squirrel fur reaches several miles away, but they will not do all that because nobody wants to enter government before the elections,” Kiisler said.

ERR journalist Mirko Ojakivi said a minority government was not necessarily bad for Estonia. “A minority government in itself does not mean anything terrible; it simply means that the government has to work harder in parliament,” he said.

ERR news editor Joosep Värk identified the adoption of the state budget as one of the government’s key challenges in the coming political season. “If the government gets the state budget adopted, then they have basically cleared the bar,” Värk said.

Coalition parties seek visibility

The formation of the minority government was preceded by tensions within the governing parties during the summer. Reform Party members Aivar Sõerd and Mart Võrklaev criticised the supplementary budget and did not support it.

Reform Party member Meelis Kiili and Eesti 200 member Kalev Stoicescu left their parties during the summer. Stoicescu later joined the Parempoolsed party.

Värk said internal criticism could partly reflect politicians’ efforts to secure a mandate in the next parliament. Some politicians may realise that they no longer have a place in the next Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, he said.

Ojakivi said Reform Party politicians in particular were seeking greater visibility. The Reform Party currently holds 38 seats in the Riigikogu.

Disagreements over cuts

Political observers said disagreements between coalition partners Reform Party and Eesti 200 over spending cuts were also linked to the approaching elections.

“I think these are simply messages to their voters. They want to signal what their messages will be in the next elections,” Värk said.

Ojakivi said sharp political confrontation could attract attention, but it was unclear whether voters would welcome it. “The voter is tired of all this. Voters would still expect a better life and more positive messages. They probably will not become famous through such a scandal and bickering,” he said.

The ETV programme Hapud kurgid 2026 also analyses other major news topics from the summer, including the presidential election, irregular migration and prison leasing. The programme airs on ETV on Monday at 8 p.m.