Isamaa leaders blame summer, voter impatience for polling drop

Isamaa leaders have attributed the party’s falling support to voter impatience over efforts to remove the government and the difficulty opposition parties face in staying visible during the summer, ERR reported.

Isamaa chairman Urmas Reinsalu said the party’s voters may be growing impatient and want to see the government led by Prime Minister Kristen Michal replaced sooner.

“This is understandable from the people’s perspective. But I assure you that we will continue offering a convincing and responsible Estonian alternative to the current political agenda, which has unfortunately reached a dead end,” Reinsalu told ERR. He added that he hoped changes would come sooner rather than later.

Isamaa Secretary General Andres Metsoja said summer was always a more difficult period for opposition parties because they had fewer opportunities to appear in the media while the government held weekly press events.

Metsoja said Isamaa representatives had attended fairs and other public gatherings and met with people. With the new session of the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, now underway, the party would focus more strongly on nationwide issues affecting Estonians, he said.

He said Isamaa would maintain its positions on resolving confusion over defence funding, improving the welfare and health of Estonian families and people, and strengthening the competitiveness of the economy at local, national and European Union levels.

Support for Isamaa fell to 23.3 percent in the latest Norstat poll commissioned by the Institute of Social Research, according to figures released on Wednesday. This was the party’s lowest level since November 2023.

Isamaa’s support stood at 25.3 percent two weeks earlier, 26.4 percent in the second week of August and 27.3 percent at the beginning of June. Its lead over the Centre Party has narrowed to a minimum.