Reformpartiet i slutkampanj inför Estlands riksdagsval

Den femte mars går Estland till valurnorna och landet står inför ett vägval mellan det ledande Reformpartiet, systerparti till Centerpartiet, och det högerextrema partiet EKRE. Vi har ställt några frågor till Reformpartiet i valspurten.

• What is the election about?

Estonia will have national elections on March 5th. These elections will determine how and by who Estonia is run. We have a tight race between us liberals and the far-right EKRE party. This means the choice is weather Estonia will remain a forward-looking, innovative and friendly country, or if we will have a country ruled by extremists who do not like our present-day Estonia and who do not care about membership in the EU or NATO, good relations with our allies, or the fate of Ukraine.

• Which issues are the most important for the Estonian voters?

The crises of recent years show that we live in uncertain times. Putin's war in Ukraine has affected Estonia as well, both our sense of security and with an unprecedented rise in prices. Thus, two major issues are important for the voters. Firstly, national security: it is more important than ever that we stand firm and continue our unwavering support for Ukraine. Second, economic well-being: people need to be able to rely on their country in these difficult times and feel that no one is left behind.

• What are the three biggest challenges in Estonia right now, according to the Reform Party?

We need to ensure our national security not just for ourselves but for the EU as well. This is why we are investing more than ever before to make sure our defence infrastructure is up to date. It is vital that we have close co-operation with our allies. We must act firmly in the European Union and NATO to ensure that every person can value all the freedoms that Ukraine is currently fighting for.

Secondly, we have to counter rising prices and inflation to better the livelihood of our citizens. We need to make sure we have a competitive tax system, an attractive economic environment, and a forward-looking energy policy that includes solar, wind, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. The elderly need the most confidence in the future: with a strong economy we can raise pensions as well.

Third, we need to have a high-quality Estonian-language education system where teachers are valued and students are approached as individually as possible. The education system must create a society that thinks in a unified information space. The Reform Party has systematically worked for the transition to Estonian-language education, and now it is finally becoming a reality.

• What is the Reform Party’s view on future cooperation between Estonia and Sweden?

The Reform Party has always valued the close relations between Sweden and Estonia. We wholeheartedly welcome your step to become a member of NATO and we are sure that this will further our co-operation in defence policy to ensure the safety of the region. We also see Sweden as a major ally in the EU and we are sure we can rely on each other in the future as we have done before. In these turbulent times we must work together to overcome the challenges we face.