Party comparison
Keskerakond vs Parempoolsed: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Eesti Keskerakond and Erakond Parempoolsed on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Keskerakond and Parempoolsed differ?
Keskerakond and Parempoolsed are far apart on the economy, social policy and regional policy. Keskerakond fully supports a higher income tax rate for people who earn more and free public transport throughout Estonia, and supports free university education for all, faster pension rises even if taxes have to go up and much larger benefits for families with three or more children; Parempoolsed opposes all of these. Parempoolsed fully supports healthcare relying more on people’s own responsibility, reducing the budget deficit by cutting spending rather than raising taxes, EU foreign policy decisions by majority vote, compulsory military service for women and defence spending of at least 5% of GDP, and Keskerakond opposes them. Keskerakond also fully supports electing the president directly and easier citizenship for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991, which Parempoolsed rejects. Both fully oppose a climate law with binding targets.
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.
Pensions, family and welfare
Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments.
Government and democracy
The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens.
Regions and rural life
Public transport should be free throughout Estonia.
Economy and taxes
VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money.
Economy and taxes
A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered.
Common ground
Where they agree
Defence and security
Estonia should keep giving Ukraine military aid worth at least 0.25% of GDP every year.
Both: In favour
Language and integration
Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country.
Both: In favour
Energy and environment
Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions.
Both: Strongly against
Values and society
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Both: Against
Values and society
Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do.
Both: In between
Values and society
Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it.
Both: In between
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 38 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| The annual car tax should be abolished. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| A tax on expensive property should be introduced so that taxes on work can be lowered. | In favour | Strongly against |
| The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised. | Against | Strongly in favour |
Pensions, family and welfare 19 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it. | In favour | Strongly against |
| Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children. | In favour | Strongly against |
| Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
| University education should be free for all students. | In favour | Strongly against |
Defence and security 50 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | In favour | In favour |
| Women should also do compulsory military service. | Against | Strongly in favour |
| Frozen Russian assets should be used to fund Ukraine. | Against | In favour |
Europe and foreign affairs 50 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones. | In between | In favour |
| The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity. | Against | Strongly in favour |
Migration 50 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff. | Against | In favour |
| The annual immigration quota should not be increased. | In favour | Against |
Language and integration 50 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not. | Against | In favour |
| Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. | Strongly against | In favour |
| Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country. | In favour | In favour |
Energy and environment 60 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should build a nuclear power plant. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term. | Strongly in favour | In between |
| 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. | Against | In favour |
| The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced. | In favour | Against |
Values and society 90 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. | Against | Against |
| Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted. | Against | Strongly against |
| Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do. | In between | In between |
| Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it. | In between | In between |
| Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely. | Against | Strongly against |
Government and democracy 25 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| Internet voting should be kept in elections. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
| Citizens should be able to trigger a binding referendum by collecting signatures. | In favour | Strongly against |
Regions and rural life 13 %
| Question | Keskerakond | Parempoolsed |
|---|---|---|
| The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| Public transport should be free throughout Estonia. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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