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2003 Estonian parliamentary election

January 18, 2023

Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 2 March 2003. The newly elected 101 members of the 10th Riigikogu assembled at Toompea Castle in Tallinn within ten days of the election. Two opposing parties won the most seats, with both the Centre Party and Res Publica Party winning 28 seats in the Riigikogu. Res Publica was able to gain enough support in negotiations after the elections to form a coalition government.

2003 Estonian parliamentary election
← 1999 2 March 2003 2007 →
101 seats in the Riigikogu
51 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Edgar Savisaar Juhan Parts Siim Kallas
Party Centre Res Publica Reform
Last election 28 seats did not participate 18 seats
Seats won 28 28 19
Seat change 0 28 1
Popular vote 125,709 121,856 87,551
Percentage 25.40% 24.62% 17.69%
Results by electoral district
Prime Minister before election

Siim Kallas
Reform

Prime Minister after election

Juhan Parts
Res Publica

Background

Before the elections the government of Estonia was a coalition of the centre-right Estonian Reform Party and the more left-wing Centre Party, with Siim Kallas from the Reform Party of Estonia as prime minister.[1] On 26 November 2002 the President of Estonia, Arnold Rüütel, set 2 March 2003 as the election date.[2] 947 candidates from 11 political parties contested the election as well as 16 independents.[3]

Campaign

Opinion polls showed the Centre Party led by the mayor of Tallinn, Edgar Savisaar, with a small lead in the run up to the election.[4] They were expected to gain support from among those who had not benefited from the rapid economic reforms that had taken place over the last decade.[5] However their populism and their lack of a clear policy on whether Estonia should join the European Union meant they were likely to struggle to form a coalition after the election.[5]

The leading critics of the Centre Party were from the new conservative Res Publica Party, which had only been formed in 2002.[1] Res Publica's campaign focused on the need to address crime and corruption[1] and they portrayed themselves as being a change to the older political parties.[5] Res Publica had performed strongly in the 2002 local elections after being formed from the youth wings of some of the other right wing political parties.[5]

A leading issue in the election was the tax system with the Centre Party pledging to scrap the flat tax and change it to a progressive tax system.[6] Both Res Publica and the Reform Party opposed this, with the Reform Party calling for the tax rate to be cut significantly.[6] The personalities of the various party leaders were also a significant part of the campaign, with opponents particularly attacked the Centre Party leader Edgar Savisaar.[6] Savisaar had quit as interior minister in 1995 after being accused of taping rival politicians[1] and during the campaign the media raised questions over the financing of his campaign.[6]

Results

The results saw the Centre Party win the most votes but they were only 0.8% ahead of the new Res Publica party.[7] As a result, both parties won 28 seats, which was a disappointment for the Centre Party who had expected to win the most seats.[8] Altogether the right of centre parties won 60 seats, compared to only 41 for the left wing, and so were expected to form the next government.[1][9] Voter turnout was higher than expected at 58%.[6] The Russian minority parties lost representation in parliament, with most of such voter switching to Estonian parties of the left (Estonian Centre Party) or some to the non-nationalist right (Reform Party).

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Estonian Centre Party[a]125,70925.40280
Res Publica Party121,85624.6228New
Estonian Reform Party87,55117.6919+1
People's Union of Estonia[b]64,46313.0313+6
Pro Patria Union36,1697.317–11
Moderate People's Party34,8377.046–11
Estonian United People's Party11,1132.250–6
Estonian Christian People's Party5,2751.0700
Estonian Independence Party2,7050.550New
Social Democratic Labour Party2,0590.420New
Russian Party in Estonia[c]9900.2000
Independents2,1610.4400
Total494,888100.001010
Valid votes494,88898.84
Invalid/blank votes5,7981.16
Total votes500,686100.00
Registered voters/turnout859,71458.24
Source: Nohlen & Stöver[10]
  1. ^ The Estonian Centre Party list included members of the Estonian Pensioners' Party.
  2. ^ The People's Union of Estonia list included members of the New Estonia Party.
  3. ^ The Russian Party in Estonia list included members of the Party of Estonian Unity, Russian Baltic Party in Estonia and the Russian Unity Party.

Aftermath

Both the Centre and Res Publica parties said that they should get the chance to try and form the next government,[11] while ruling out any deal between themselves.[12] President Rüütel had to decide who he should nominate as Prime Minister and therefore be given the first chance at forming a government.[12] On the 2 April he invited the leader of the Res Publica party, Juhan Parts to form a government[13] and after negotiations a coalition government composed of Res Publica, the Reform Party and the People's Union of Estonia was formed on the 10 April.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Deadlock in Estonia election". BBC News Online. 2003-03-03. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  2. ^ "Baltic Report: December 6, 2002". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2002-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  3. ^ "Baltic Report: January 28, 2003". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2003-01-28. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  4. ^ Sullivan, Ruth (2003-02-24). "The". Financial Times. p. 32.
  5. ^ a b c d "Slim win for Estonia's left". CNN. 2003-03-02. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  6. ^ Election leaves hung parliament, The Independent, 2003-03-03, p. 9
  7. ^ Wines, Michael (2003-03-04). "World Briefing Europe: Estonia: Leftists Reeling After Election". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  8. ^ "The World This Week". The Economist. 2003-03-08. p. 8.
  9. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp585–588 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  10. ^ . Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2003-03-03. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  11. ^ a b "Estonia quandary after split vote". BBC News Online. 2003-03-03. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  12. ^ a b "Estonia: parliamentary elections Riigikogu, 2003". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 2009-06-01.

External links

  • Estonian Electoral Commission

January 18, 2023
2003, estonian, parliamentary, election, parliamentary, elections, were, held, estonia, march, 2003, newly, elected, members, 10th, riigikogu, assembled, toompea, castle, tallinn, within, days, election, opposing, parties, most, seats, with, both, centre, part. Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 2 March 2003 The newly elected 101 members of the 10th Riigikogu assembled at Toompea Castle in Tallinn within ten days of the election Two opposing parties won the most seats with both the Centre Party and Res Publica Party winning 28 seats in the Riigikogu Res Publica was able to gain enough support in negotiations after the elections to form a coalition government 2003 Estonian parliamentary election 1999 2 March 2003 2007 outgoing memberselected members 101 seats in the Riigikogu 51 seats were needed for a majority First party Second party Third party Leader Edgar Savisaar Juhan Parts Siim KallasParty Centre Res Publica ReformLast election 28 seats did not participate 18 seatsSeats won 28 28 19Seat change 0 28 1Popular vote 125 709 121 856 87 551Percentage 25 40 24 62 17 69 Results by electoral districtPrime Minister before electionSiim KallasReform Prime Minister after election Juhan PartsRes Publica Contents 1 Background 2 Campaign 3 Results 4 Aftermath 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditBefore the elections the government of Estonia was a coalition of the centre right Estonian Reform Party and the more left wing Centre Party with Siim Kallas from the Reform Party of Estonia as prime minister 1 On 26 November 2002 the President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel set 2 March 2003 as the election date 2 947 candidates from 11 political parties contested the election as well as 16 independents 3 Campaign EditOpinion polls showed the Centre Party led by the mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar with a small lead in the run up to the election 4 They were expected to gain support from among those who had not benefited from the rapid economic reforms that had taken place over the last decade 5 However their populism and their lack of a clear policy on whether Estonia should join the European Union meant they were likely to struggle to form a coalition after the election 5 The leading critics of the Centre Party were from the new conservative Res Publica Party which had only been formed in 2002 1 Res Publica s campaign focused on the need to address crime and corruption 1 and they portrayed themselves as being a change to the older political parties 5 Res Publica had performed strongly in the 2002 local elections after being formed from the youth wings of some of the other right wing political parties 5 A leading issue in the election was the tax system with the Centre Party pledging to scrap the flat tax and change it to a progressive tax system 6 Both Res Publica and the Reform Party opposed this with the Reform Party calling for the tax rate to be cut significantly 6 The personalities of the various party leaders were also a significant part of the campaign with opponents particularly attacked the Centre Party leader Edgar Savisaar 6 Savisaar had quit as interior minister in 1995 after being accused of taping rival politicians 1 and during the campaign the media raised questions over the financing of his campaign 6 Results EditThe results saw the Centre Party win the most votes but they were only 0 8 ahead of the new Res Publica party 7 As a result both parties won 28 seats which was a disappointment for the Centre Party who had expected to win the most seats 8 Altogether the right of centre parties won 60 seats compared to only 41 for the left wing and so were expected to form the next government 1 9 Voter turnout was higher than expected at 58 6 The Russian minority parties lost representation in parliament with most of such voter switching to Estonian parties of the left Estonian Centre Party or some to the non nationalist right Reform Party PartyVotes Seats Estonian Centre Party a 125 70925 40280Res Publica Party121 85624 6228NewEstonian Reform Party87 55117 6919 1People s Union of Estonia b 64 46313 0313 6Pro Patria Union36 1697 317 11Moderate People s Party34 8377 046 11Estonian United People s Party11 1132 250 6Estonian Christian People s Party5 2751 0700Estonian Independence Party2 7050 550NewSocial Democratic Labour Party2 0590 420NewRussian Party in Estonia c 9900 2000Independents2 1610 4400Total494 888100 001010Valid votes494 88898 84Invalid blank votes5 7981 16Total votes500 686100 00Registered voters turnout859 71458 24Source Nohlen amp Stover 10 The Estonian Centre Party list included members of the Estonian Pensioners Party The People s Union of Estonia list included members of the New Estonia Party The Russian Party in Estonia list included members of the Party of Estonian Unity Russian Baltic Party in Estonia and the Russian Unity Party Aftermath EditBoth the Centre and Res Publica parties said that they should get the chance to try and form the next government 11 while ruling out any deal between themselves 12 President Ruutel had to decide who he should nominate as Prime Minister and therefore be given the first chance at forming a government 12 On the 2 April he invited the leader of the Res Publica party Juhan Parts to form a government 13 and after negotiations a coalition government composed of Res Publica the Reform Party and the People s Union of Estonia was formed on the 10 April 13 References Edit a b c d e Deadlock in Estonia election BBC News Online 2003 03 03 Retrieved 2009 06 01 Baltic Report December 6 2002 Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 2002 12 06 Retrieved 2009 06 01 Baltic Report January 28 2003 Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 2003 01 28 Retrieved 2009 06 01 Sullivan Ruth 2003 02 24 The Financial Times p 32 a b c d Slim win for Estonia s left CNN 2003 03 02 Retrieved 2009 06 01 a b c d e Center left party wins popular vote in Estonia TheStar com 2003 03 03 Archived from the original on 2011 06 04 Retrieved 2009 06 01 Election leaves hung parliament The Independent 2003 03 03 p 9 Wines Michael 2003 03 04 World Briefing Europe Estonia Leftists Reeling After Election The New York Times Retrieved 2009 06 01 The World This Week The Economist 2003 03 08 p 8 Dieter Nohlen amp Philip Stover 2010 Elections in Europe A data handbook pp585 588 ISBN 978 3 8329 5609 7 Estonia Two Parties Want To Form Government After Close Election Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 2003 03 03 Archived from the original on 2009 02 17 Retrieved 2009 06 01 a b Estonia quandary after split vote BBC News Online 2003 03 03 Retrieved 2009 06 01 a b Estonia parliamentary elections Riigikogu 2003 Inter Parliamentary Union Retrieved 2009 06 01 External links EditEstonian Electoral Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 Estonian parliamentary election amp oldid 1125989534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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