Party comparison
EKRE vs Isamaa: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond and Isamaa Erakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do EKRE and Isamaa differ?
EKRE and Isamaa are close on taxes, immigration, language and values: both fully support abolishing the car tax, switching all schooling to Estonian by 2030, requiring people who work with customers to speak Estonian and defining marriage in the Constitution, and both fully oppose a tax on expensive property, raising the immigration quota, easier hiring of workers from outside the EU, easier citizenship for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991, a climate law and EU foreign policy decisions by majority vote. Their clearest differences are defence and church ties: Isamaa fully supports defence spending of at least 5% of GDP, military aid to Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets to fund it, and EKRE disagrees; Isamaa fully supports requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, which EKRE fully opposes.
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
Language and integration
Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
Defence and security
Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas.
Defence and security
Estonia should keep giving Ukraine military aid worth at least 0.25% of GDP every year.
Defence and security
Frozen Russian assets should be used to fund Ukraine.
Government and democracy
Internet voting should be kept in elections.
Government and democracy
The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy and taxes
People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.
Both: Against
Economy and taxes
The annual car tax should be abolished.
Both: Strongly in favour
Economy and taxes
A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered.
Both: Strongly against
Economy and taxes
The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut.
Both: In favour
Defence and security
Women should also do compulsory military service.
Both: Against
Europe and foreign affairs
The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity.
Both: Strongly against
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 92 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax. | Against | Against |
| VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The annual car tax should be abolished. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut. | In favour | In favour |
| To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
Pensions, family and welfare 69 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it. | In between | Against |
| Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments. | Against | In between |
| University education should be free for all students. | In between | In favour |
Defence and security 44 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas. | Against | Strongly in favour |
| Estonia should keep giving Ukraine military aid worth at least 0.25% of GDP every year. | Against | Strongly in favour |
| Women should also do compulsory military service. | Against | Against |
| Frozen Russian assets should be used to fund Ukraine. | Against | Strongly in favour |
Europe and foreign affairs 88 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
Migration 100 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The annual immigration quota should not be increased. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
Language and integration 75 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
| Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country. | Against | Strongly against |
Energy and environment 85 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should build a nuclear power plant. | In favour | In between |
| Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| More wind farms should be built on land, even if local residents oppose them. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced. | In between | Against |
Values and society 85 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted. | Strongly in favour | In between |
| Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do. | In favour | In between |
| Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it. | Against | Against |
| Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
Government and democracy 33 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Internet voting should be kept in elections. | Strongly against | In favour |
| The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| Citizens should be able to trigger a binding referendum by collecting signatures. | Strongly in favour | In between |
Regions and rural life 75 %
| Question | EKRE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Public transport should be free throughout Estonia. | In between | Against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
Take the test and find out how closely you match EKRE, Isamaa and the other parties.
Take the political test