Freedom in the World 2018 - Estonia

Freedom Status: Free
Aggregate Score: 94 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free)
Freedom Rating: 1.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Political Rights: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Civil Liberties: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Quick Facts

Population: 1,300,000
Capital: Tallinn
GDP/capita: $17,156
Press Freedom Status: Free
Net Freedom Status: Free

OVERVIEW

Democratic institutions are strong in Estonia and political and civil rights are widely respected. The greatest challenges facing the democracy are ethnic tensions and economic inequality. About 7 percent of the country's population remains stateless and thus may not participate in national elections.

Key developments in 2017:

• In October, the first local elections took place since the merging of municipalities reduced the total number of elected representatives by nearly half. The Center Party gained the most seats.

• In December, a tax reform was adopted that raised both the minimum wage for full-time workers and the amount of tax-free income for low- and middle-income earners, among other changes that aim to make the system more progressive.

POLITICAL RIGHTS: 38 / 40

A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 12 / 12

The current prime minister, Jüri Ratas from the Center Party, was confirmed by the Riigikogu (parliament) following the formation of a coalition in 2016 between the Center Party and two minor partners – the center-left Social Democrats (SDE) and the conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (IRL). Ratas's selection took place according to proper legal procedures.

The president is elected by parliamentary ballot to a five-year term, filling the largely ceremonial role of head of state. Current president Kersti Kaljulaid was elected as a nonpartisan consensus candidate after six rounds of voting in 2016. Although the overall election process was free and fair, it was criticized as too lengthy.

The constitution establishes a 101-seat unicameral parliament whose members are elected for four-year terms. The 2015 elections were free and fair.

The legal framework for conducting elections is clear and detailed. Online voting is widespread. October 2017 municipal elections witnessed record turnout online, with 32 percent of participating voters using this method, thus demonstrating strong public confidence in the e-voting system.

Administrative reform in mid-2017 merged municipalities, reduced the number of electoral seats by almost half, and abolished the county level of administration. Upon review, the Supreme Court allowed the changes to stand.

B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 15 / 16

Estonia's political parties organize and operate freely. Party members may be citizens of Estonia or of another EU member state. The system is open to the rise and fall of different parties. For example, the 2015 election brought two new parties to power: the conservative, anti-establishment Free Party and the far-right Conservative People's Party.

The system is open to the rotation of power. In the 2015 elections, the center-right Reform Party, which had led the previous government, captured the most seats (30), and subsequently formed a coalition with its previous coalition partner, the SDE, as well as the IRL. In 2016, the Center Party, which held 27 seats, formed a new ruling coalition with the SDE and the IRL. The Center Party won local elections in October 2017.

People's political choices are not influenced by undemocratic forces. While the governing Center Party has not fully renounced its cooperation agreement with United Russia, the main political party in Russia, this has not led to foreign interference with Estonia's political rights.

The political rights of ethnic Russian residents of Estonia, about 7 percent of the population whose citizenship remains undetermined, face limitations on their political rights. Only citizens may participate in national elections, and while resident noncitizens are permitted to vote in local elections, they may not run as candidates. The authorities have adopted policies to assist those seeking naturalization. Although women only make up 27 percent of members of parliament, women's interests are represented through a variety of programs and government initiatives.

C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT 11 / 12

Both the government and the parliament are freely elected and function without interference from external or nonstate actors.

Recent years have seen heavily publicized allegations of corruption within the main political parties as well as in the public sector. The trial of Edgar Savisaar, former leader of the Center Party and Tallinn city mayor, is ongoing for charges of bribery, money laundering, and embezzlement. Other corruption scandals involving Center Party representatives continue to emerge, and the party itself is being investigated for accepting illegal donations. While the government has taken significant action toward curbing corruption according to Council of Europe anticorruption body GRECO, key shortcomings include various measures to prevent conflicts of interest among legislators. State companies have yet to improve their corruption prevention measures.

Estonia is well-known for its transparency and developed e-governance services. Public access to government information and asset declarations of officials is provided for both in law and in practice.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: 56 / 60

D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 16 / 16

The government generally respects freedom of the press. Public and private television and radio stations operate in Estonia, and there are a number of independent newspapers. The government does not restrict access to the internet.

Religious freedom is respected in law and in practice.

Academic freedom is respected. By law, public Russian-language high schools must teach 60 percent of their curriculum in the Estonian language, but this does not severely limit freedom.

Individuals are free to express political views without fear of surveillance or retribution.

E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 12 / 12

The constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, and the government upholds this right in practice.

The government honors the civic rights of associations and does not restrict or control the activities of nongovernmental organizations.

Workers may organize freely, strike, and bargain collectively, although public servants at the municipal and state levels may not strike.

F. RULE OF LAW: 14 / 16

The judiciary is independent and generally free from government interference.

The legal process in civil and criminal matters is generally free and fair. Laws prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention and ensuring the right to a fair trial are largely observed.

Score Change: The score improved from 3 to 4 because legal processes are organized and orderly, and prosecutors and investigation authorities are generally not subject to political pressure.

While Estonia is generally safe and peaceful, it has one of the highest intentional homicide rates in the European Union. There have been reports of law enforcement officials using excessive force when arresting suspects. Some inmates reportedly have inadequate access to health care. The incarceration rate is the seventh highest in the OECD.

Score Change: The score declined from 4 to 3 due to a relatively high homicide rate and because conditions in prisons and detention facilities remain inadequate.

Russian language speakers continue to face societal discrimination, which is reinforced by laws such as the Equal Treatment Act, which does not consider Estonian linguistic requirements for public officials as discriminatory. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is legally prohibited, though harassment of members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) communities is reportedly common.

G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 14 / 16

Citizens and residents enjoy free movement inside Estonia and to leave the country.

Estonian residents enjoy strong property rights and can establish private businesses, although corruption in the business sector is sometimes a problem.

Violence against women, including domestic violence, remains a problem. As of year's end, the Riigikogu still could not adopt necessary amendments to previous acts to fully implement a 2014 law permitting same-sex civil unions.

Russian speakers face discrimination when applying for jobs, especially in the public sector, due to strict language requirements. Women in Estonia earn on average 25 percent less than men, the largest gap in the European Union. Estonia is a source, transit point, and destination for women and girls trafficked for prostitution. The unemployment rate is low at 6 percent, but according to the European Commission about a quarter of the population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2016. A tax reform passed in December 2017 aims to make the system more progressive.

Scoring Key: X / Y (Z)

X = Score Received
Y = Best Possible Score
Z = Change from Previous Year