Party comparison

Eesti 200 vs SDE: how alike are they?

We compare the documented positions of Erakond Eesti 200 and Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.

Eesti 200

Liberalism, centrism

73 %

overall agreement

SDE

Social democracy, centre-left

In brief

How do Eesti 200 and SDE differ?

Eesti 200 and SDE agree on values, climate and defence, but differ sharply on taxes and spending. SDE fully supports a higher income tax rate for people who earn more and faster pension rises even if taxes have to go up, and supports free university education for all and cutting VAT on food; Eesti 200 opposes all of these. Eesti 200 holds that the budget deficit should be reduced by cutting spending rather than raising taxes, which SDE fully rejects, and supports building a nuclear power plant, which SDE opposes. Both fully support a climate law with binding targets, military aid to Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets to fund it, and requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, and both fully oppose defining marriage in the Constitution.

This summary is based on the parties’ documented positions on the test statements; the source of each position is on the party’s page. Updated 17/10/2026.

Differences

Where they clash most

Economy and taxes

People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.

Eesti 200 Strongly against

Its 2025 coalition agreement restores a flat income tax with a 700-euro tax-free allowance for everyone; its 2023 programme called for a uniform and stable tax system.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto proposes a progressive income tax of 20%, rising to 28% on income above €3,000 a month, and in 2025 it was still calling for it.

Pensions, family and welfare

Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it.

Eesti 200 Strongly against

Its leader says the younger generation cannot keep being taxed more to pay for fast-rising pension costs and that pension indexation must be reviewed.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto aims to raise the old-age pension to €1,200, at least half the average wage, and to fund its goals it proposes a new tax system with a progressive income tax.

Economy and taxes

VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money.

Eesti 200 Against

In 2025 and 2026 its MPs did not back proposals to cut VAT on food to 9 %: they voted neither for nor against, and the proposals were rejected.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its MPs voted in 2025 to cut VAT on staple foods to 9%, and in 2026 the party is campaigning for it while acknowledging that it reduces state tax revenue.

Economy and taxes

To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised.

Eesti 200 In favour

In 2026 its leader ruled out new tax rises as harmful to the economy and the party wants all spending reviewed, but it opposes cutting the deficit faster while the war lasts.

SDE Strongly against

Its 2023 manifesto says the era of the minimal state is over and calls for a new tax system; in 2025-2026 it accuses Reform of a low-tax dogma and criticises spending cuts.

Pensions, family and welfare

University education should be free for all students.

Eesti 200 Against

In 2024 its then leader opposed free university for everyone and suggested fees for some subjects; its 2023 programme already allowed tuition fees in certain cases.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto guarantees free higher education at all levels, and in 2024-2025 the party opposed proposals to introduce tuition fees.

Common ground

Where they agree

Economy and taxes

The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut.

Both: Against

Defence and security

Estonia should keep giving Ukraine military aid worth at least 0.25% of GDP every year.

Both: Strongly in favour

Defence and security

Women should also do compulsory military service.

Both: Against

Defence and security

Frozen Russian assets should be used to fund Ukraine.

Both: Strongly in favour

Language and integration

It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship.

Both: In between

Language and integration

Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Both: Strongly in favour

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy and taxes 50 %

Pensions, family and welfare 44 %

Defence and security 94 %

Europe and foreign affairs 75 %

Migration 75 %

Language and integration 80 %

Energy and environment 80 %

Values and society 90 %

Government and democracy 92 %

Regions and rural life 50 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy and taxes 50 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.	Strongly against	Strongly in favour
VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money.	Against	Strongly in favour
The annual car tax should be abolished.	In between	Against
A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered.	In between	In favour
The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut.	Against	Against
To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised.	In favour	Strongly against

Pensions, family and welfare 44 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it.	Strongly against	Strongly in favour
Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children.	Strongly against	Against
Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments.	Against	Strongly against
University education should be free for all students.	Against	Strongly in favour

Defence and security 94 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas.	Strongly in favour	In favour
Estonia should keep giving Ukraine military aid worth at least 0.25% of GDP every year.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
Women should also do compulsory military service.	Against	Against
Frozen Russian assets should be used to fund Ukraine.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour

Europe and foreign affairs 75 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones.	Against	Strongly against
The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity.	Against	In between

Migration 75 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff.	In favour	In between
The annual immigration quota should not be increased.	Against	In between

Language and integration 80 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian.	Strongly in favour	In favour
It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship.	In between	In between
People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not.	In favour	In between
Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country.	Strongly in favour	In between

Energy and environment 80 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
Estonia should build a nuclear power plant.	In favour	Against
Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term.	Against	Against
Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions.	Strongly in favour	Strongly in favour
More wind farms should be built on land, even if local residents oppose them.	In favour	In favour
The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced.	In between	Strongly in favour

Values and society 90 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do.	Against	Against
Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it.	In favour	In between
Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely.	In favour	Strongly in favour

Government and democracy 92 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
Internet voting should be kept in elections.	Strongly in favour	In favour
The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens.	Against	Against
Citizens should be able to trigger a binding referendum by collecting signatures.	In between	In between

Regions and rural life 50 %

Question	Eesti 200	SDE
The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils.	In between	Strongly in favour
Public transport should be free throughout Estonia.	Strongly against	In between

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