Estonia's SDE closes in on Center Party as presidential vote shapes ratings
August polling in Estonia shows Isamaa firmly leading the party ratings while the Social Democrats (SDE) have surged closer to the falling Center Party, a shift pollster Emor links to the ongoing presidential election process.
Estonian pollster Emor's monthly survey shows Isamaa keeping its firm lead in August with 26 percent support, its best showing since January despite having topped the ratings for months.
The opposition Center Party, however, has been sliding for two consecutive months, falling from 22 percent in June to 19 percent in August. Meanwhile the Social Democrats (SDE) rose from 14 percent in July to 18 percent in August, gaining particular traction among voters under 35. Center's losses were sharpest among Estonian-speaking respondents, whose support for the party fell from 13 percent in June to 8 percent in August.
Emor research expert Aivar Voog suggested the shift may stem from the presidential election process. SDE was the first party to publicly back Ülle Madise, currently the only registered candidate and also the most popular with the public. Center, by contrast, is the sole party backing TalTech Rector Tiit Land, a less popular contender.
The coalition Reform Party and opposition EKRE placed fourth and fifth with 13 and 12 percent respectively, both down from 14 percent in July. Non-parliamentary Parempoolsed held steady at 7 percent, while coalition partner Eesti 200 rose to 3 percent following the high-profile departure of member Kalev Stoicescu. The pro-Kremlin Koos/Vmeste party scored 2 percent, and the Greens 1 percent.
Twenty-seven percent of respondents could not name a preferred party. Among Russian-speaking voters, Center kept a dominant 67 percent lead, and it remained Tallinn's most popular party at 31 percent, even as SDE's support there climbed to 24 percent. Estonia's presidential election at the Riigikogu is set for September 2-3.
