Estonia 200

Estonia 200 (Estonian: Eesti 200, E200) is a liberal political party in Estonia.^[2][3] It adheres to social and economic liberalism.^[4][5]

Estonia 200 Eesti 200
Abbreviation	E200
Leader	Lauri Hussar
Founder	Kristina Kallas
Founded	3 November 2018; 4 years ago (2018-11-03)
Split from	Isamaa Social Democratic Party
Headquarters	Suur-Karja 4-4, Tallinn
Membership (2021)	710^[1]
Ideology	Liberalism
Political position	Centre
Colours	Indigo
Slogan	"Pikk plaan Eestile" ("A long-term plan for Estonia")
Riigikogu	14 / 101
Municipalities	40 / 1,717
European Parliament	0 / 7
Website
eesti200.ee
Politics of Estonia Political parties Elections

History

In 2017, the initiators of the movement began discussing Estonia's future. The movement's formal foundation arguably took place on 2 May 2018, when their manifesto was first published. According to a mid-June 2018 poll conducted by Turu-uuringute AS, 15% of voters were ready to vote for the movement in the 2019 parliamentary elections.^{[citation needed]}

 

Former Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas at the 2021 Opinion Festival in Paide, Estonia

On 30 May 2018, former Põlva County governor Igor Taro was appointed rural area coordinator of the movement.^[6] On 7 June, the initiators announced that Henrik Raave would lead Eesti 200,^[7] and the following day, the manifesto authors registered it as a nonprofit organisation. Its founders were Raave, Taro, as well as Priit Alamäe, Kristiina Tõnnisson, Indrek Nuume and Kristina Kallas, who was elected council head.^[8] On 7 August, news broke that Margus Tsahkna, former leader of the Pro Patria party, was set to join Eesti 200.^[9]

On 21 August 2018, the Estonia 200 movement decided to form a party later that fall and participate in the March 2019 parliamentary elections.^[10] On 3 November, the day the movement became a party, Kristina Kallas was elected as its first chairperson.^[11] On 15 May 2019, Triin Saag told Europe Elects that E200 aimed to join what would become the liberal Renew Europe group in the EU Parliament.^[12]

In July 2020, Karin Kaup Lapõnin became Estonia 200's executive secretary. On 10 October, the party elected a new board, with Kallas reelected as chair. Kaup Lapõnin, Margot Roose, Lauri Hussar and Marek Reinaas were elected as board members, while Margus Tsahkna, Pirko Konsa and Jaak Laineste were reelected to the board. On 15 October 2022, Hussar defeated Kallas in the party's leadership election and became chair.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2023 parliamentary election, Estonia 200 received 13.3% of the vote and 14 seats in the Riigikogu. Following the election on 7 March, Prime Minister and Reform Party leader Kaja Kallas invited Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party for preliminary talks aimed at forming a new coalition government.^[13]

Ideology and platform

Estonia 200 describes itself as a liberal and progressive party.^{[citation needed]} It supports Estonia's NATO and European Union membership, same-sex marriage and internet access as a human right.^[14][15] It also supports reducing the personal income tax rate of employees with places of work and residence outside Tallinn and Harju County by 15%.^{[citation needed]} The party supports community-based renewable energy sources and creating a bond for green funding. It advocates the inclusion of mental health lessons in school curricula, as well as reserving 1% of local budgets for investment projects chosen by residents. Estonia 200 also calls for local government bodies to be made up of 50% politicians and 50% representatives of experts and interest groups. In addition, it intends to decrease public funding for all political parties.^[16]

Election results

Parliamentary elections

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/−	Government
2019	24,447	4.4 (#6)	0 / 101	New	Extra-parliamentary
2023	81,329	13.3 (#4)	14 / 101	14	TBD

European Parliament elections

Election	Votes			Seats		Pos.
	#	%	± pp	#	±
2019	10,706	3.2		0 / 7		7th

References

1. "Äriregistri teabesüsteem" (in Estonian). Retrieved 15 January 2021.
2. Juzefovičs, Jānis; Vihalemm, Triin (August 2020). "Digital humor against essentialization: Strategies of Baltic Russian-speaking social media users". Political Geography. 81: 102204. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2020.102204.
3. Ehin, Piret; Talving, Liisa (2019). "Estonia: A scene set by the preceding national election". In De Sio, Lorenzo; Russo, Luana; Franklin, Mark N. (eds.). The European Parliament Elections of 2019. Luiss University Press. p. 129. Eesti 200, a liberal newcomer, received 3.2% of the vote.
4. "Estonia 200 unveils its full election candidate list". ERR News. Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
5. Sebald, Christoph; Matthews-Ferrero, Daniel; Papalamprou, Ery; Steenland, Robert (14 May 2019). "EU country briefing: Estonia". EURACTIV. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
6. "Igor Taro asub vedama Eesti 200 tegevust maakondades" (in Estonian). Postimees. 30 May 2018.
7. "Eesti 200 tegevjuhiks saab Henrik Raave" (in Estonian). ERR. 7 June 2018.
8. "Eesti 200 algatajad asutasid MTÜ" (in Estonian). Postimees. 8 June 2018.
9. "Margus Tsahkna kinnitas, et liitub Eesti 200-ga" (in Estonian). ERR. 7 August 2018.
10. "Liikumine Eesti 200 loob partei ja läheb valimistele" (in Estonian). ERR. 21 August 2018.
11. "Eesti 200 moodustas partei. Erakonna esimeheks valiti Kristina Kallas". Delfi. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
12. @EuropeElects (16 May 2019). "Estonia: E200's national spitzenkandidat ("top candidate") in the European election tells @EuropeElects that she in…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. https://news.err.ee/1608906884/kaja-kallas-reform-inviting-eesti-200-social-democrats-to-coalition-talks
14. "Eesti 200 programm" (in Estonian).
15. "Estonia 200 programme".
16. "Eesti 200 plaan" (in Estonian).