Party comparison

Reformierakond vs Keskerakond: how alike are they?

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

Reformierakond

Liberalism, centre-right

48 %

overall agreement

Keskerakond

Centrism, social conservatism

In brief

How do Reformierakond and Keskerakond differ?

Reformierakond and Keskerakond differ most on taxes. Keskerakond supports a higher income tax rate for people who earn more, cutting VAT on food and abolishing the car tax; Reformierakond opposes all three. Keskerakond also supports free public transport throughout Estonia, producing electricity from oil shale in the long term and making citizenship easier to obtain for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991, and Reformierakond disagrees. Reformierakond, for its part, wants to require churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, pass a climate law with binding targets and keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, which Keskerakond 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

People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.

Reformierakond Strongly against

It defends a flat income tax: since 2026 everyone pays 22% with €700 a month tax-free. It opposes the progressive income tax proposed by other parties.

Keskerakond Strongly in favour

It backs a progressive income tax: in 2025 it proposed taxing more heavily the part of income not needed to get by, and in 2023 a 30% rate on income above two average wages.

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.

Keskerakond Strongly in favour

In 2025 its parliamentary group proposed cutting VAT on basic foods to 9%, and its party council made that cut one of its priorities for the 2027 election.

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.

Keskerakond Strongly in favour

In November 2025 its party council called for scrapping the car tax, and its Tallinn coalition agreement commits to working for its repeal by January 2027 at the latest.

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.

Keskerakond Strongly against

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

Economy and taxes

The standard VAT rate should be brought back down from 24%, even if public spending has to be cut.

Reformierakond Strongly against

Its 2025 coalition agreement sets VAT at 24% to fund defence, and the government it leads made that temporary rise permanent. It does not propose lowering it.

Keskerakond In favour

In 2025 it listed the VAT rise to 24% among the tax increases it wants to reverse, offering instead a progressive income tax, a bank profits tax and an end to large projects.

Pensions, family and welfare

Healthcare should rely more on people's own responsibility, for example through higher patient co-payments.

Reformierakond In favour

Its 2023 manifesto expects everyone to take responsibility for their own health and wants more supplementary health insurance; the 2025 coalition agreement studies bringing private money into healthcare.

Keskerakond Strongly against

Its 2023 programme proposes reducing patients' out-of-pocket payments for health care, including dental care, and exempting people over 65 from visit fees.

Common ground

Where they agree

Defence and security

Women should also do compulsory military service.

Both: Against

Language and integration

Estonian citizens should be allowed to also hold the citizenship of another EU or NATO country.

Both: In favour

Values and society

Euthanasia should be allowed for terminally ill people who ask for it.

Both: In between

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy and taxes 21 %

Pensions, family and welfare 50 %

Defence and security 56 %

Europe and foreign affairs 63 %

Migration 50 %

Language and integration 45 %

Energy and environment 50 %

Values and society 75 %

Government and democracy 42 %

Regions and rural life 38 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy and taxes 21 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.	Strongly against	Strongly in favour
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	In favour
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	Against

Pensions, family and welfare 50 %

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

Defence and security 56 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
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	In favour
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 63 %

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

Migration 50 %

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

Language and integration 45 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian.	Strongly in favour	In between
It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship.	Against	Strongly in favour
People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not.	In favour	Against
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	In favour

Energy and environment 50 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
Estonia should build a nuclear power plant.	In favour	In between
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	Against
The amount of forest felled in Estonia each year should be reduced.	In between	In favour

Values and society 75 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.	Strongly against	Against
Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted.	Strongly against	Against
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	In between
Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely.	In favour	Against

Government and democracy 42 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
Internet voting should be kept in elections.	Strongly in favour	In between
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	In favour

Regions and rural life 38 %

Question	Reformierakond	Keskerakond
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	Strongly in favour

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