Estonian elections, rightwing victory

**alhoon** · March 04, 2015, 08:08 AM

The "Estonian Reform Party" won the Estonian elections. They got 30 MPs out of 101 member parliament and will make a coalition.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31681293
Their new Prime minister, is just 35 years old, the younger PM in Europe. While he's young, the party is not new. It has been in the Estonian parliament for many years.
Overshadowed by fears of Russian aggression, the pro-Russian "Centre party" polled at about 25%. The Estonian Reform Party said they won't consider them as a coalition partner.

About the Estonian Reform Party, I know just a little about them, so I checked them out in wikipedia.
More or less, they're free-market type, lower corporate tax etc to push for investments.

I agree (not completely but a lot) with their stance and position. In general at least. But my question is, since I don't know anything about them
"Are they the type to walk the walk, or they just talk the talk?"

**hellheaven1987** · March 04, 2015, 12:49 PM

Meh, just another central right party; tell me when Nazis come to power again.

**Princeps** · March 05, 2015, 01:45 AM

The average Estonian loses again, and the neolibs continue to shift the burden on the poor. So basically, an Estonian making just 600 euros a month (which is difficult for me to imagine as a Finn) will continue to pay 20 % of his income in taxes, leaving just 480 euros in his pocket. That's not a whole lot, and prices aren't exactly that remarkably low in Estonia either.

But Estonians are welcome to Finland. Never met a single Estonian I didn't like, but their politics and politicians really, really suck.

**alhoon** · March 05, 2015, 08:30 AM

But... the party's platform is to reduce taxes...

**Philos Sophos** · March 05, 2015, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by alhoon

But... the party's platform is to reduce taxes...

Mainly corporate taxes as it's a party oriented to business and most of the big business owners vote for that party.

The thing is, in my opinion they are trying to turn Estonia into "little USA".

**hellheaven1987** · March 05, 2015, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Philos Sophos

Mainly corporate taxes as it's a party oriented to business and most of the big business owners vote for that party.

Income tax is reduced from 22% to 18% too; their argument is that by reducing corporate tax they hope it would bring up income rate, and hence increase overall income tax.

**StarDreamer** · March 05, 2015, 10:08 AM

Things will just continue as they had in Estonia then? Considering the party has been in government since 1999 and been the largest party since 2007. I don't know how things have gone for the average Estonian, but Tallinn has changed quite a bit during that time. To see what type of a party they are I guess you just have to look at what they've done in Estonia during that time.

**Princeps** · March 05, 2015, 01:10 PM

Income tax is reduced from 22% to 18% too

Suuuure.

**alhoon** · March 09, 2015, 11:23 PM

That's what I am asking. Are they just blowing smoke or they are actually going to follow through with their promises?

**Philos Sophos** · March 10, 2015, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by hellheaven1987

Income tax is reduced from 22% to 18% too; their argument is that by reducing corporate tax they hope it would bring up income rate, and hence increase overall income tax.

The Wikipedia article is a bit outdated, but the corporate income tax is 20% right now.

Originally Posted by alhoon

That's what I am asking. Are they just blowing smoke or they are actually going to follow through with their promises?

Considering that they got the won the elections and are the biggest party in the forming coalition, they will probably do something. During the elections, all of the parties pour out tons of populistic promises, of which they shall try to fulfill the most realistic ones. But the reform party will follow through, or atleast try to, most of it's promises as it will control the most important minister positions.

And Estonia will continue in a path, where the companies, international and domestic, with the Swedish banks thrive and the ordinary folk get their hopes crushed. The only reason, why they keep on winning the elections, is the Russian card, which strikes fear into the Estonians believing, that the only party to save us from the bear is the Reform party - simple as that.