The general election will happen on the 5th of March, 2023, as the president of Estonia Alar Karis signed the resolution, and Estonian television has dived into the parties’ proposals, writes ERR News.
Most parties will start their campaign after the Christmas holidays, but some have already revealed their slogans and key issues at elections.
Overall the main questions are quality of life, wages, and taxes. It is the focus of the Social Democratic Party, and its leader Lauri Läänemets said that wages should rise as did the prices. Newly found party Parempoolsed, led by former state prosecutor general Lavly Perling, also says that the economy is a question that must be considered.
Another question for candidate parties is safety.
Eesti 200 leader Lauri Hussar said «Security, both in terms of defense and in terms of coping with the future, is the central issue at these elections.»
Party participated in previous elections in 2019 but didn’t reach the Parliament.
Candidates point out that energy and smart development are crucial questions for Estonia’s future. Green Party’s co-chair Johanna Maria Tõugu said it is included in their party slogan «Smart development», meaning that Estonia should work so everyone should feel the benefits of intelligent management. Isamaa is the party that has chosen to focus on energy issues.
Its chairman Helir-Valdor Seeder said: «This whole circle of issues, which concerns energy prices, not to mention the major choices facing Estonia – renewable energy, energy from oil shale, nuclear power and so on.»
At least one party mentions immigration as an issue that is important for Estonia and should be managed carefully to avoid Estonians becoming a minority in their own country. The Conservative People’s Party of Estonia leader Martin Helme stated: «Either Estonia will remain a nation-state, or it will not – where Estonians will become a minority here, and the Estonian language will become some kind of third-rate language, after English and Russian.»
Parties are determined to fight for the seats in Parliament. Meanwhile, the President of Estonia Alar Karis warned the electorate to be careful and avoid falling into the trap of hollow promises.