2009 European Parliament election in Estonia

Estonia European Parliament election, 2009

7 June 2009
6 seats to the European Parliament

The European Parliament election of 2009 in Estonia was the election of the delegation from Estonia to the European Parliament in 2009.

The election day was 7 June 2009. Turnout was 43.9% – about 17.1% higher than during the previous election five years before. The turnout was also slightly above the European average of 42.94%.

Six seats were up for taking in this election: two of them were won by the Estonian Centre Party. Estonian Reform Party, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica, Social Democratic Party and an independent candidate Indrek Tarand all won one seat each.

The election result was remarkable in that the independent candidate Indrek Tarand gathered the support of 102,460 voters, only 1,046 votes less than the winner of the election, Estonian Centre Party, surpassing the results of all other major and minor parties.

Another independent candidate, eurosceptical Martin Helme, surprised also in gaining 9,832 votes and thus surpassing one parliament party - People's Union of Estonia - and gaining only 1,019 less than the next best on the list, Estonian Greens.

The election was conducted using the D'Hondt method with closed lists. The success of independent candidates in this election has been attributed both to general disillusionment with major parties and use of closed lists which rendered voters incapable to cast a vote for specific candidates in party lists.

Elected Members of the European Parliament

• Edgar Savisaar (Estonian Centre Party)
• Siiri Oviir (Estonian Centre Party)
• Indrek Tarand (independent)
• Kristiina Ojuland (Estonian Reform Party)
• Tunne Kelam (Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica)
• Ivari Padar (Social Democratic Party)

Edgar Savisaar renounced his mandate, leaving his seat to the third candidate in the party's list – his wife Vilja Savisaar. She was confirmed as a Member of the European Parliament on 7 July 2009.

External links

• Election results on the web site of the National Electoral Committee
• Results of the Estonian European Parliament Elections in 2009