New Estonian government will be cautious until polls

Significance

A coalition between the Reform and Centre parties, it replaces Centre’s coalition with the populist radical right-wing Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) and the mainstream conservative Isamaa (Fatherland). EKRE’s inclusion in government had been a shock and its leaders’ crude and bizarre behaviour tarnished Estonia’s international image as the most successful of the post-communist countries.

Impacts

• Municipal elections in October will test the popularity of both government and opposition parties.
• The most important issue now is to keep the second wave of COVID-19 under control.
• Foreign policy will continue to rest on the EU and NATO and on strong bilateral relations with the United States and United Kingdom.