Full candidate list for Estonia’s 2027 elections to cost €118,250

Submitting a full candidate list for Estonia’s 2027 parliamentary elections will require a deposit of €118,250, ERR reported, citing Arne Koitmäe, head of the State Electoral Service.

A deposit of €946 must be paid for each candidate. The amount equals one monthly minimum wage at the time the election is announced. Since a party may nominate up to 125 candidates nationwide, a full list requires a deposit of €118,250, Koitmäe said.

The requirement applies both to political parties and independent candidates. Parties receive their deposits back if they win at least 5% of the valid votes nationwide, the threshold for taking part in the distribution of seats.

Candidates and independent candidates can also recover their deposits if they receive at least half of the simple quota in their electoral district. In other words, they must win votes equivalent to half of the number needed for a seat.

Greens challenge deposit system

The Estonian Greens won a case at the European Court concerning election deposits in the most recent European Parliament elections. The court found that the deposit was too high and said that, while such a requirement may have a legitimate aim, its amount and repayment rules must not create an excessive obstacle for new political forces.

The case will now proceed to Estonia’s Supreme Court, which must issue a ruling within four months.

Koitmäe said the final decision on the matter would be made by the Supreme Court. The deposit amount is set by law in the Riigikogu election legislation, and the State Electoral Service and the State Electoral Committee cannot change it themselves, he said.

Rasmus Lahtvee, co-leader of the Greens, said the deposit was disproportionately high and that the repayment system was outdated. He said the European Court’s ruling should prompt a review of Estonia’s entire deposit system.

The Greens aim to contest the election with a full list, Lahtvee said, although it remains unclear how many candidates they will ultimately nominate. He described the nearly €120,000 deposit as a financial barrier rather than a measure aimed at deterring unserious candidates.

Among smaller parties, only the Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives has definitely said it plans to submit a full candidate list.