Reinsalu: Outgoing government already acts as if it will lose power after elections
With less than a year until Estonia's 2027 parliamentary elections, the opposition criticizes the coalition for failing to fulfill promises and worsening the budget deficit. Coalition members defend their record, citing ongoing reforms and the need to keep the state functioning.
Estonia is heading into the 2027 parliamentary elections with less than a year to go, and political debate increasingly focuses on the government's interim performance. The opposition claims that the current coalition is leaving the next government a difficult financial and political situation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev, vice-chairman of the Centre Party, argues that key government promises remain unfulfilled and the socio-economic situation of the population has worsened. He criticizes the tax policy as an 'anachronism of the late 1990s' and predicts political instability as early as autumn.
Urmas Reinsalu, leader of the Isamaa party, is even harsher. He claims the government has broken promises in several strategic areas, including family policy, where over €200 million per year has been taken from families with children. On state finances, he says the outlook is 'catastrophic' with no plan, and that fixing public finances will fall to the government after 2027. He also doubts the outgoing government can implement offshore wind farm projects.
Coalition representatives counter that most of the coalition agreement is being implemented on schedule. Kristina Kallas, chair of Eesti 200, points to the benefits reform aiming for more targeted support. She acknowledges the budget situation is tough because defense spending has risen from 2% to 5% of GDP over three years.
Maris Lauri, vice-chair of the Reform Party, urges against dramatizing the situation, reminding that no government has ever fully implemented its programme. She emphasizes that state life cannot be paused for elections and that the autumn priority is passing the state budget. If the opposition tries to block it, most expenses next year will be funded at this year's level.
Political tension in Estonia continues to grow. The parliament still faces the tasks of electing a president and adopting next year's budget, with positions between the coalition and opposition sharply divided.
