Party comparison
EKRE vs SDE: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond and Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do EKRE and SDE differ?
EKRE and SDE are far apart on most issues. SDE fully supports harsher penalties for inciting hatred, a climate law with binding targets and requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, and EKRE opposes all three; EKRE fully supports defining marriage in the Constitution and the EU handing powers back to member states, which SDE fully opposes. SDE supports military aid to Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets to fund it, a higher income tax rate for people who earn more and a tax on expensive property, and EKRE disagrees; to reduce the budget deficit, EKRE prefers cutting public spending to raising taxes, which SDE firmly rejects. They do share two positions: both fully support cutting VAT on food and keeping small village schools open.
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
Europe and foreign affairs
The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones.
Language and integration
Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
Energy and environment
Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions.
Values and society
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Values and society
Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted.
Values and society
Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy and taxes
VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money.
Both: Strongly in favour
Defence and security
Women should also do compulsory military service.
Both: Against
Regions and rural life
The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils.
Both: Strongly in favour
Regions and rural life
Public transport should be free throughout Estonia.
Both: In between
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 42 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax. | Against | Strongly in favour |
| VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| The annual car tax should be abolished. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered. | Strongly against | In favour |
| The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut. | In favour | Against |
| To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised. | In favour | Strongly against |
Pensions, family and welfare 63 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children. | In between | 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. | In between | Strongly in favour |
Defence and security 50 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas. | Against | 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 25 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity. | Strongly against | In between |
Migration 50 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff. | Strongly against | In between |
| The annual immigration quota should not be increased. | Strongly in favour | In between |
Language and integration 50 %
| Question | EKRE | 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. | Strongly against | In between |
| People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not. | Strongly in favour | In between |
| 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 | In between |
Energy and environment 30 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should build a nuclear power plant. | In favour | Against |
| Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
| More wind farms should be built on land, even if local residents oppose them. | Strongly against | In favour |
| The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced. | In between | Strongly in favour |
Values and society 25 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do. | In favour | Against |
| Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it. | Against | In between |
| Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
Government and democracy 33 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| 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 100 %
| Question | EKRE | SDE |
|---|---|---|
| The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Public transport should be free throughout Estonia. | In between | In between |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
Take the test and find out how closely you match EKRE, SDE and the other parties.
Take the political test