Party comparison
SDE vs Isamaa: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond and Isamaa Erakond on the 38 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do SDE and Isamaa differ?
SDE and Isamaa agree on defence and church ties: both fully support military aid to Ukraine, using frozen Russian assets to fund it and requiring churches to cut their ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. They part ways on taxes, values, climate and Europe. SDE fully supports harsher penalties for inciting hatred and a climate law with binding targets, and Isamaa fully opposes both; Isamaa fully supports defining marriage in the Constitution and reducing the budget deficit by cutting spending rather than raising taxes, and SDE fully opposes both. SDE also supports a higher income tax rate for people who earn more, a tax on expensive property, faster pension rises and less forest felling, while Isamaa supports abolishing the car tax, much larger benefits for large families and the EU handing powers back to member states.
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
To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised.
Energy and environment
Estonia should pass a climate law with binding targets for cutting emissions.
Values and society
The Constitution should define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Values and society
Inciting hatred against a group of people should be punished more severely.
Economy and taxes
People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax.
Economy and taxes
The annual car tax should be abolished.
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: 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
Government and democracy
Internet voting should be kept in elections.
Both: In favour
Government and democracy
The President of the Republic should be elected directly by the citizens.
Both: Against
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 33 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| People who earn more should pay a higher rate of income tax. | Strongly in favour | Against |
| VAT on food should be cut, even if the state collects less money. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The annual car tax should be abolished. | Against | Strongly 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. | Against | In favour |
| To reduce the budget deficit, public spending should be cut rather than taxes raised. | Strongly against | Strongly in favour |
Pensions, family and welfare 44 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Pensions should rise faster, even if taxes have to go up to pay for it. | Strongly in favour | 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. | Strongly against | In between |
| University education should be free for all students. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
Defence and security 94 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should keep defence spending at 5% of GDP or more, even if that means cuts in other areas. | 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 | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should hand powers back to member states rather than take on new ones. | Strongly against | In favour |
| The EU should be able to take foreign policy decisions by majority vote, without needing unanimity. | In between | Strongly against |
Migration 50 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should make it easier to hire workers from outside the EU when companies cannot find staff. | In between | Strongly against |
| The annual immigration quota should not be increased. | In between | Strongly in favour |
Language and integration 65 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| All schooling should switch to Estonian by 2030, including in schools where most pupils speak Russian. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| It should be easier for people who have lived in Estonia since before 1991 to obtain Estonian citizenship. | In between | Strongly against |
| People who work with customers should be required to speak Estonian, with higher fines if they do not. | In between | 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 between | Strongly against |
Energy and environment 35 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia should build a nuclear power plant. | Against | 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. | Strongly 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. | Strongly in favour | Against |
Values and society 40 %
| Question | SDE | 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. | Strongly in favour | Strongly against |
Government and democracy 100 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| Internet voting should be kept in elections. | 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. | In between | In between |
Regions and rural life 75 %
| Question | SDE | Isamaa |
|---|---|---|
| The state should keep small village schools open even if they have few pupils. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Public transport should be free throughout Estonia. | In between | Against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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