Chamber:
	Riigikogu
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	7 March 1999
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office
Background and outcome of elections:
	The date of the 1999 general elections was announced on 1 December 1998 by President of the Republic Lennart Meri. The deadline for submitting party lists of candidates was set for 21 January, after which the official campaign would begin. By this date, 12 parties and 1901 candidates (including independents) had registered to contest Parliament's the 101 seats. In the same month, a number of parties had concluded co-operation agreements to form joint lists. The main campaign issues related to the economy, tax policy and the country's entry into the European Union as well as participation in NATO's "partnership for peace" programme. The opposition pointed to the declining economic growth rate (which came on the heels of an impressive expansion in 1997) and advocated a progressive, graduated income tax rather than the 26% flat tax which, it claimed, fostered inequality. In a nationally televised speech, President Meri called on voters to elect politicians with fresh ideas and policies to reinvigorate the country. The outgoing, four-party minority Government led by Prime Minister Mart Siimann (Coalition Party) was plagued by political infighting. On polling day, the Centre Party, headed by former Prime Minister Edgar Savisaar, won the most seats (28) but the three-member, centre-right opposition coalition comprising the Reform Party, the Moderates' Party and the Pro Patria Union captured an absolute majority total of 53 seats between them; this alliance had advocated spurring economic growth through reform to cure Estonia's social ills. Altogether five parties and 19 independents failed to attain the 5% vote threshold needed for parliamentary representation. Given the election outcome, the above-mentioned three-member coalition formed the new Government on 25 March. The Prime Minister is Mr. Mart Laar (Pro Patria Union).

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (7 March 1999): Elections results
Number of registered electors	857 270
Voters	492 356 (57 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	8 117
Valid votes	484 239

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Centre Party	113 378	23.41
Pro Patria Union	77 917	16.09
Reform Party	77 088	15.92
Moderates' Party	73 630	15.21
Coalition Party	36 692	7.58
Country People's Party	35 204	7.27
United People's Party	29 682	6.13
Others	40 648	8.39

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Centre Party	28
Pro Patria Union	18
Reform Party	18
Moderates' Party	17
Coalition Party	7
Country People's Party	7
United People's Party	6
Others	0

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	83
Women:	18
Percent of women:	17.82