Party comparison
Reformierakond vs Isamaa: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Eesti Reformierakond and Isamaa Erakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Reformierakond and Isamaa differ?
Reformierakond and Isamaa take the same line on defence and language: both fully support defence spending of at least 5% of GDP, military aid to Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets to fund it, switching all schooling to Estonian by 2030 and requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. They part ways on taxes, values, immigration and Europe. Isamaa wants to abolish the car tax and bring VAT back down, both the standard rate and the rate on food; Reformierakond opposes this. Isamaa supports defining marriage in the Constitution, does not want the immigration quota raised and opposes harsher penalties for inciting hatred, easier hiring of workers from outside the EU and EU foreign policy decisions by majority vote, all of which Reformierakond supports. On energy, Reformierakond supports a climate law and more onshore wind farms, which Isamaa firmly 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
Economy and taxes
The annual car tax should be abolished.
Values and society
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Economy and taxes
VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money.
Economy and taxes
The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut.
Pensions, family and welfare
Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children.
Europe and foreign affairs
The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity.
Common ground
Where they agree
Pensions, family and welfare
Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it.
Both: Against
Defence and security
Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas.
Both: Strongly in favour
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
All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian.
Both: Strongly in favour
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 46 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Strongly in favour |
Pensions, family and welfare 69 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it. | Against | Against |
| Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children. | Against | Strongly in favour |
| Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments. | In favour | In between |
| University education should be free for all students. | In between | In favour |
Defence and security 100 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas. | Strongly in favour | Strongly 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 38 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones. | Against | 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 | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 75 %
| Question | Reformierakond | 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. | 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 in favour |
| Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country. | In favour | Strongly against |
Energy and environment 50 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should build a nuclear power plant. | In favour | In between |
| Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term. | Against | 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 | Against |
Values and society 45 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In between |
| Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do. | Against | In between |
| 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 83 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Against | In between |
Regions and rural life 88 %
| Question | Reformierakond | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils. | In between | In favour |
| Public transport should be free throughout Estonia. | Against | Against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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