Party comparison

Reformierakond vs EKRE: how alike are they?

We compare the documented positions of Eesti Reformierakond and Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.

Reformierakond

Liberalism, centre-right

46 %

overall agreement

EKRE

National conservatism, Euroscepticism

In brief

How do Reformierakond and EKRE differ?

Reformierakond and EKRE part ways mainly on values, taxes, defence and elections. EKRE supports defining marriage in the Constitution as a union between a man and a woman and restricting access to abortion; Reformierakond opposes both. On taxes, EKRE wants to abolish the car tax and cut VAT on food, and Reformierakond rejects both. Reformierakond supports defence spending of at least 5% of GDP and military aid to Ukraine of at least 0.25% of GDP a year, which EKRE does not. Reformierakond wants to keep internet voting; EKRE opposes it and supports electing the president directly and binding referendums triggered by citizens. They agree that all schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030.

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

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

Reformierakond Strongly against

It opposes cutting VAT on food: it estimates the state would lose up to €400 million and doubts that shop prices would fall for good.

EKRE Strongly in favour

In 2026 its parliamentary group tabled a bill to cut VAT on food from 24% to 9%; its 2023 manifesto proposed cutting it to 5%.

Economy and taxes

The annual car tax should be abolished.

Reformierakond Strongly against

It opposes scrapping the car tax: it calculates that the annual tax and the registration fee will bring in €169 million in 2027 and that abolishing them would widen the deficit.

EKRE Strongly in favour

In 2025 its parliamentary group tabled a bill to repeal the motor vehicle tax, and its 2025 municipal manifesto says the car tax must be scrapped.

Language and integration

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

Reformierakond Strongly in favour

Its parliamentary group voted in 2025 for the amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, which require the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church to cut its subordination to the Moscow Patriarchate.

EKRE Strongly against

In 2025 its MPs voted against the church law reform requiring ties with the Moscow Patriarchate to be cut; its leader said it violates freedom of religion.

Values and society

The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Reformierakond Strongly against

Its 2023 manifesto rejects discrimination against same-sex families; its government passed marriage equality that year, and in 2026 it pledges no step back on minority rights.

EKRE Strongly in favour

After same-sex marriage was legalised, it proposed a referendum on defining marriage in 2023; in 2017 it backed defining marriage in the Constitution as the union of a man and a woman.

Values and society

Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted.

Reformierakond Strongly against

In 2023 it answered with the position of its minister Signe Riisalo: abortion rights are an inseparable part of women's rights, and banning abortion would endanger women's health.

EKRE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto wants to reduce abortions without medical grounds and stop funding them with taxpayers' health money; its principles say it does not support abortion.

Government and democracy

Internet voting should be kept in elections.

Reformierakond Strongly in favour

It defends online voting as part of the digital state and of citizens' freedom and criticises those who attack it; its coalition agreement aims to upgrade and secure the technology.

EKRE Strongly against

In November 2025 its council demanded that internet voting be abolished as unreliable; in 2023 its parliamentary group had already tabled a bill to end it.

Common ground

Where they agree

Economy and taxes

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

Both: In favour

Pensions, family and welfare

University education should be free for all students.

Both: In between

Defence and security

Women should also do compulsory military service.

Both: Against

Language and integration

All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian.

Both: Strongly in favour

Energy and environment

Estonia should build a nuclear power plant.

Both: In favour

Energy and environment

The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced.

Both: In between

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy and taxes 46 %

Pensions, family and welfare 75 %

Defence and security 44 %

Europe and foreign affairs 25 %

Migration 25 %

Language and integration 60 %

Energy and environment 55 %

Values and society 30 %

Government and democracy 17 %

Regions and rural life 63 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy and taxes 46 %

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

Pensions, family and welfare 75 %

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

Defence and security 44 %

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

Europe and foreign affairs 25 %

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

Migration 25 %

Question	Reformierakond	EKRE
Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff.	In favour	Strongly against
The annual immigration quota should not be increased.	Against	Strongly in favour

Language and integration 60 %

Question	Reformierakond	EKRE
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.	Against	Strongly against
People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not.	In favour	Strongly in favour
Churches in Estonia should be required to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.	Strongly in favour	Strongly against
Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country.	In favour	Against

Energy and environment 55 %

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

Values and society 30 %

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

Government and democracy 17 %

Question	Reformierakond	EKRE
Internet voting should be kept in elections.	Strongly in favour	Strongly against
The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens.	Against	Strongly in favour
Citizens should be able to trigger a binding referendum by collecting signatures.	Against	Strongly in favour

Regions and rural life 63 %

Question	Reformierakond	EKRE
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.	Against	In between

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