Party comparison

Reformierakond vs SDE: how alike are they?

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

Reformierakond

Liberalism, centre-right

72 %

overall agreement

SDE

Social democracy, centre-left

In brief

How do Reformierakond and SDE differ?

Reformierakond and SDE agree on many questions of values, defence and language, but are far apart on the economy. SDE supports a higher income tax rate for people who earn more, cutting VAT on food and raising pensions faster even if taxes have to go up; Reformierakond opposes all three. Reformierakond, in turn, holds that the budget deficit should be reduced by cutting spending rather than raising taxes and that healthcare should rely more on people’s own responsibility, and SDE strongly disagrees. Both fully support military aid to Ukraine and using frozen Russian assets to fund it, and requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, and both fully oppose defining marriage in the Constitution.

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.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto proposes a progressive income tax of 20%, rising to 28% on income above €3,000 a month, and in 2025 it was still calling for it.

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.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its MPs voted in 2025 to cut VAT on staple foods to 9%, and in 2026 the party is campaigning for it while acknowledging that it reduces state tax revenue.

Economy and taxes

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

Reformierakond In favour

For 2027 the government it leads cuts the deficit to 4% of GDP with an extra spending cut of about €250 million and a lower tax burden; earlier it also raised taxes, such as VAT, to pay for defence.

SDE Strongly against

Its 2023 manifesto says the era of the minimal state is over and calls for a new tax system; in 2025-2026 it accuses Reform of a low-tax dogma and criticises spending cuts.

Pensions, family and welfare

Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it.

Reformierakond Against

Its coalition agreement keeps pension indexation unchanged. In 2023 it promised an average pension of €1,000 by 2027; the forecast for 2027 is €904.

SDE Strongly in favour

Its 2023 manifesto aims to raise the old-age pension to €1,200, at least half the average wage, and to fund its goals it proposes a new tax system with a progressive income tax.

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.

SDE Strongly against

Its former health minister wrote in 2025 that the answer for healthcare is not higher co-payments or private insurance but more public money; it wants health insurance for everyone.

Common ground

Where they agree

Pensions, family and welfare

Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children.

Both: Against

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

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

Both: Strongly in favour

Energy and environment

Estonia should keep producing electricity from oil shale in the long term.

Both: Against

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy and taxes 38 %

Pensions, family and welfare 50 %

Defence and security 94 %

Europe and foreign affairs 75 %

Migration 75 %

Language and integration 80 %

Energy and environment 75 %

Values and society 95 %

Government and democracy 83 %

Regions and rural life 63 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy and taxes 38 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
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	Against
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	Against
To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised.	In favour	Strongly against

Pensions, family and welfare 50 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it.	Against	Strongly in favour
Families with three or more children should receive much larger benefits than families with one or two children.	Against	Against
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	Strongly in favour

Defence and security 94 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas.	Strongly in favour	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 75 %

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

Migration 75 %

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

Language and integration 80 %

Question	Reformierakond	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.	Against	In between
People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not.	In favour	In between
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	In between

Energy and environment 75 %

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

Values and society 95 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Access to abortion in Estonia should be restricted.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Tougher punishments reduce crime more than prevention and rehabilitation do.	Against	Against
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	Strongly in favour

Government and democracy 83 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
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 63 %

Question	Reformierakond	SDE
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

What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?

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