13 June 2004
6 seats
Electoral system: party list system; proportional representation under the d'Hondt system
The conservatives of RP-Res Publica ("Union for the Republic"), the biggest party in the coalition currently in power, intends to defend Estonian in a multi-cultural Europe, "because language is the key element in national and cultural preservation". The party is pinning its hopes on the young Urmas Reinsalu (29), president of the constitutional committee in the "Riigikogu" (Estonian Parliament), former senior lecturer in law, at the top of the list, and on Ene Ergma (60), an astrophysicist, and Chair of Estonia's Academy of Science. The Liberals in the ER- Eesti Reformierakond (Estonian Reform Party), a partner of Res Publica in the government, are taking an even tougher line, saying that Estonian MEPs have to have the chance to speak their language in all parliamentary meetings. Toomas Savi (61) MEP and president of Riigikogu is heading the list, followed by the current minister for culture Signe Kivi (47). ERL - Eestimaa Rahvalliit (Estonian People's Union), conservative and which makes up the third wing of the government coalition and defends the rural population. Their position on linguistic matters is close to that of its partners: defending the Estonian language in Europe but also in Estonia, which is being threatened by English and Russian. Janno Reiljan (53), MEP and doctor is heading the list and Maimu Berg (59), former fashion magazine journalist and writer is second.
The centre K-Eesti Keskerakond (Estonian Peoples Party) is the largest opposition party in Estonia. It is the only party that defends, not only Estonian language interests but also those spoken by other minorities in Estonia. The two other opposition parties, the Social Democrat SDE-Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond and the pro-patriotic IL-Samaaliit (Party Fatherland Union) both defend strengthening Estonian in the EU but advocate different methods. The SDE is calling for equal rights for "minority" languages in the EU, whereas IL calls for the development of the language for science, technology. The latter is also against giving Russian official status although it is spoken by a third of the Estonian population. The SDE list is led by Toomas Hendrik Ilves (51), MEP and former minister of foreign affairs, followed by Marianne Mikko (43), television journalist. The IL list is led by Tunne Kelam (68), vice president of Riigikogu, followed by Erki Nool (34) 1998 heptathlon champion, a sport in which he won the gold medal and for which he was awarded best Estonian athlete in 1996, 1998 and 2000.
Four independent parties are also putting forward programmes: a) Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party, led by Tiit Toomsalu (55 ), president of the party, followed by Sirje Kingsepp (35 ), "socialiste and feminist"; b) Estonian Democratic Party (1. Aleksander Einseln (73), former colonel; 2. Jaan Laas (66 ), president of the party)); c) Estonian Pensioners' Party, representing pensioners' rights (just one candidate: Jaan Kundla (67); d) Russian Party in Estonia defending Russian language minority rights (29% of the population) (1. Dmitri Linter (31 ); 2. Jelena Ziolkowska). Several candidates are also putting themselves forward in a personal capacity.