Estonian parliamentary election, 1999

Estonian parliamentary election of 1999 was held on 7 March 1999. The threshold was 5% of the national vote, and seven lists passed the threshold. Electoral cartels were not allowed any more, but it didn't prevent a party from including members of another party in its list.

The election proved disastrous for Coalition Party, which achieved only seven seats together with two of its smaller allies. Estonian Ruralfolk Party, which participated the election on its own list, obtained seven seats as well.

The programme of Mart Laar’s government was signed by Fatherland Union, Reform Party, Moderates and People’s Party. The latter two merged soon after, so Mart Laar’s second government is widely known as Kolmikliit, or Tripartite coalition. Notwithstanding the different political orientation of the ruling parties, the coalition stayed united until Mart Laar resigned in December 2001, after Reform Party had broken up the same coalition in Tallinn municipality, making opposition leader Edgar Savisaar new Mayor of Tallinn. After resignation of Laar, Reform Party and Estonian Centre Party formed a coalition that lasted until next parliamentary election, 2003.

Results

Turnout: 57.43%; 492,356
Invalid votes: 8,117; 1.65%
Valid votes: 484,239; 98.35%
5% threshold: 24,211.95

References

* List of Moderates also included candidates of People's Party; these two parties formally merged November 27, 1999 forming People's Party Moderates

* including Estonian Country League (Eesti Maaliit, EML) and Estonian Party of Pensioners and Families (Eesti Pensionäride ja Perede Erakond, EPPE).

* a joint list of Russian parties plus Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party

External links

* [http://www.vvk.ee/r99/pv_start.stm Election results on the Estonian Electoral Commission website (in Estonian)]