Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Deposit requirement (specify amount) f . Other
Comments: § 26. Political party
(1) Political parties which are entered in the non-profit associations and foundations register not later than ninety days before election day may participate in Riigikogu elections.
§ 30: (5) Before nominating candidates, a political party or an independent candidate shall deposit an amount, the size of which is equal to the minimum salary rate as established by the Government of the Republic in the year when the elections are declared, for each person nominated, in the bank account of the National Electoral Committee as the security.
Source: Electoral Law: Riigikogu Election Act last amended on 13 April 2016, § 26(1) & 30(5).
Verified: 2019/02/19
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship j . Other
Comments: § 4. Right to vote and stand as candidate
(4) Estonian citizens who have attained 21 years of age by the last day for the registration of candidates have the right to stand as candidates.
(5) A person who has been divested of his or her active legal capacity with regard to the right to vote does not have the right to stand as a candidate.
(6) A person in active service in the Defence Forces or a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence by a court and is serving a prison sentence shall not stand as a candidate for election to the Riigikogu.
Source: Electoral Law: Riigikogu Election Act last amended on 16 April 2016 , § 4(4)-(6).
Verified: 2019/02/19
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
e . In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments: Presidential elections are not direct elections:
Constitution: § 79: (2) The right to nominate a candidate for President of the Republic rests with not less than one-fifth of the membership of the Riigikogu.
(6) The Riigikogu nominates the two candidates who received the most votes in the Riigikogu to the Electoral College as candidates for President. The right to nominate a candidate for President may also be exercised by not less than twenty-one members of the Electoral College.
Electoral Law: § 27: § 27. Independent candidate
(1) A person who has the right to stand as a candidate (subsections 4 (4)-(6)) may nominate himself or herself as an independent candidate and perform the acts necessary for registration. A person who has the right to vote pursuant to subsections 4 (1)-(3) of this Act may nominate another person as an independent candidate and perform the acts necessary for registration on the basis of a corresponding authorisation document.
Source: Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 79.
Electoral Law: Riigikogu Election Act lastest amended on 16 April 2016, § 27.
Verified: 2019/02/19
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct
Comments: Political Parties Act:
§ 12(1): (1) Only membership fees established by the articles of association of a political party, allocations from the state budget received pursuant to this Act, donations of natural persons and income earned on the assets of the political party are the source of the assets and funds of the political party.
§ 12(7). Allocations from state budget
(1) A political party represented in the Riigikogu has the right to receive an allocation from the state budget by the fifth date of each calendar month. The size of the monthly allocation shall be one twelfth of the annual amount. The size of the allocation shall be proportionate to the number of seats obtained in the elections of the Riigikogu.
Source: Law: Political Parties Act latest amended on 14 June 2012, § 12(1): (1), § 12(7): (1)
Verified: 2019/02/19
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Based on result of previous election
Comments: Law:§ 12(7).
(1) A political party represented in the Riigikogu has the right to receive an allocation from the state budget by the fifth date of each calendar month. The size of the monthly allocation shall be one twelfth of the annual amount. The size of the allocation shall be proportionate to the number of seats obtained in the elections of the Riigikogu
(2) A political party that participated in the elections of the Riigikogu, but did not exceed the election threshold and received at least:
1) one percent of the votes, shall receive an allocation of 9,587 euros a year from the state budget;
2) four percent of the votes, shall receive an allocation of 15,978 euros a year from the state budget.
Source: Law: Political Parties Act latest amended on 14 June 2012, § 12(5)(1)-(2).
Verified: 2019/02/19
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: § 12 (1). Principles of funding of political party
(1) A political party shall, in accordance with the principle of democracy, ensure the lawfulness and complete transparency of its revenue and expenditure at least in the manner prescribed in this chapter.
(2) A political party may receive income only from the following sources:
1) membership fees established on the basis of the articles of association of the political party;
2) allocations from the state budget under this Act;
3) donations made on the terms and conditions laid down in this Act;
4) transactions with the property of the political party
Source: Law: Political Parties Act latest amended on 14 June 2012 § 12(1).
Verified: 2019/02/19
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